In the present work, we report a sensitive and low level electrochemical detection of Sudan I in food samples using platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) decorated graphene-beta-cyclodextrin (graphene/beta-CD) modified electrode for the first time. Cyclic voltammetry was used to evaluate the electrochemical behavior of different modified electrodes towards Sudan I. Cyclic voltammetry results reveal that graphene/beta-CD/PtNPs composite modified electrode has high electrocatalytic activity towards Sudan I than other modified electrodes. Under optimum conditions, the graphene/beta-CD/PtNPs composite modified electrode detects the Sudan I in the linear response ranging from 0.005 to 68.68 mu M with a lower limit of detection of 1.6 nM. As a proof of concept, the graphene/beta-CD/PtNPs composite modified was used for the determination of Sudan I in chili powder, chili sauce, tomato sauce and ketchup and found satisfactory recovery of Sudan I. Therefore, the fabricated sensor can be used for the detection of Sudan I in adulterated food samples. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.