Objective To seek a fast, sensitive and specific method for detection of C. jejuni and C. coli in foods. Method The highly conserved consensus sequences in flaA of C. jejuni and C. coli were selected as primers to amplify a 1 70Obp fragment in the standard strains of C. jejuni and C. coli and the isolated strains from foods in Fujian Province. Results The sensitivity of PCR was determined. Specific fragments were obtained from standard strains of C. jejuni and C. coli, 4 isolated srtains of C. jejuni and 4 isolated strains of C. coli from foods. A minimum of 6 CFU could be detected in the PCR reaction system. Conclusion Detection of flaA by PCR could detect C. jejuni and C. coli rapidly with high sensitivity and specificity and could be applied for investigations during emergency of food poisoning and outbreak of infection.