This study investigated the operating principles of colorimetric freshness indicators, particularly those for relative humidity (RH) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and evaluated the applicability of commercially available indicators for food use. The findings not only provide a deeper understanding of how these indicators respond to substances, such as carbon dioxide, volatile basic nitrogen, sulfides, water activity, and ethylene gas, which are produced during quality changes in food, but also pave the way for the development of new food safety technologies. The RH indicator functions by utilizing a dye that undergoes a chemical structural change when reacting with moisture. The H2S indicator uses a dye that changes color upon detecting H2S or volatile basic nitrogen produced when food spoils. Commercial RH indicators effectively indicated changes in the water activity of almonds, pastries, and red pepper powder; however, their ability to predict them diminished during storage. Commercial H2S indicators exhibited a stronger correlation between color change and volatile basic nitrogen levels in exposure to light than without light, as demonstrated when applied to mackerel and clam. Additionally, at the point of spoilage, the degree of color change in the H2S indicators was more distinct in clam than mackerel. Although commercial RH and H2S indicators are available, they must be sensitive, accurate, and irreversibly developed in response to changes in the target food for effective application.