Objective To compare the effectiveness of two kinds of selective media HE (hektoen enteric agar) and CAS (CHROM agar salmonella medium) on the detection of salmonella in food samples. Method The growth status and the morphology of salmonella and non-salmonella colonies on HE and CAS were observed. Twenty five grams of chicken meat were distributed in 225 ml of SC (Selenite Cystine Broth) and salmonella standard strain CMCC 50041 was used to perform artificially-contaminated experiments. The final concentration of salmonella for each sample was 0, 1, 10, 10², 10³, 10⁴, 10⁵ and 10⁶ CFU per 25g poultry respectively. All samples were incubated at 37℃ for 0 h, 4 h，8 h, 12 h and 18 h. One loop from each culture medium taken at different incubation time was streaked on HE or CAS plates. The suspected salmonella colonies were confirmed by API 20E. The sensitivity of two media on the isolation of salmonella was compared. Sixteen retail whole chicken samples collected from markets in Beijing were examined by HE and CAS plates after enriched at 37℃ for 8h, 12 h and 18h in SC, and the positive rates in HE and CAS plates were compared. Results The colony of salmonella spp. on HE is green, most are black in the center, but that on CAS is mauve. Salmonella could be isolated by CAS from poultry samples containing at least 10 CFU per 25g samples after being enriched for 8h in SC; but 18h of enrichment was needed for achieving the same result with HE. The positive rates of salmonella for 16 whole chicken samples were 43.75%，31.25% and 37.5% isolated by CAS after enrichment for 8h, 12 h and 18h respectively; and the positive rate were 18.75%，25% and 18.75% isolated by HE, correspondingly. Salmonella in 4 of 8 fresh whole chicken samples were positive, whereas in 3 of 8 frozen whole chicken samples were positive. Conclusion The growth of most other bacteria except salmonella could be restrained by the selective medium CAS. The morphology of salmonella colonies could be distinguished easily from other bacteria. The time limit and sensitivity of detection for salmonella with CAS are significantly better than that with HE. It is suggested that CAS is the first choice on screening salmonella in food samples.