This article examines the transformative potential of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) in the food industry, particularly for the early detection of fruit decay. Fresh fruits are vulnerable to pathogenic infections, leading to significant economic losses. Traditional laboratory methods for assessing fruit quality are often costly and time-consuming, prompting the adoption of non-destructive techniques like HSI. This review highlights the principles of HSI, including its dual-mode capabilities of reflectance and transmittance imaging, which allow for comprehensive assessments of both external and internal fruit quality attributes. Despite its advantages, challenges such as data processing complexities and hardware limitations persist. Future research should focus on integrating HSI with other nondestructive methods to enhance its effectiveness in detecting decay, contamination, and quality parameters, ultimately benefiting the fruit industry by improving food safety and reducing losses.