Objective To investigate the method of rapid screening melamine in different matrixes of food samples, and to provide technical support for the detection of melamine unlawfully added to foods. Method Adding melamine to different matrixes of food samples such as dairy products (milk powder, liquid milk), animal feeds (chicken feed, pig feed), raw material of feeds (fish meal, meat and bone meal, soybean meal, wheat bran), meat (chicken, pork, organ meat), and detecting the melamine with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results The detectable limits of melamine for dairy products and meat were lower than 1.0 mg/kg; the detectable limits for feeds were lower than 2.0 mg/kg, whereas the detectable limits for raw materials of feeds were more than 2.0 mg/kg. Conclusion The detection results of melamine in dairy products was fully conformed with China's temporary limited standard (1.0 mg/kg); the results of melamine in feeds were also suited to the limited standards (2.5 mg/kg). However, the ELISA method used for screening melamine in raw materials of feeds should be further improved. ELISA method can also be applicable to the detection of melamine in meat.