A new specific method to quantitative analysis of Ponceau 4R in beverage has been developed based on the fluorescence quenching of CdTe quantum dots. The low detection limit for Ponceau 4R was proved to be 0.025 μg/mL. The modified Stern-Volmer equation and thermodynamic calculation were used to analysis the fluorescence data. This method was successfully applied to the quantitative of Ponceau 4R in real sample.