Digital platforms have profoundly impacted China's food industry, but existing research has only discussed their contribution to sustainable development in a general way, lacking research on related mechanisms. This study takes the food industry in Sichuan Province as an example to explore how digital platforms shape the sustainable development of the regional food industry, focusing on Sustainable Development Goal 12 (responsible consumption and production). This study adopts a mechanism-based analysis approach to explore how different types of platforms—including agricultural e-commerce platforms, food supply chain platforms, and service platforms—affect market access, production organization, logistics coordination, and governance practices in the food industry, and to explore how the digital economy empowers the development mechanism of the regional food industry. The research data mainly comes from policy documents, industry reports, and representative practical cases in Sichuan Province. The research results identify four major empowerment mechanisms: (1) Digital platforms enhance market connectivity, connecting dispersed producers and processors with a wider consumer market and strengthening value chain integration. (2) Digital platforms improve coordination by supporting the digitalization of production and logistics, thereby improving operational efficiency. (3) Digital platforms provide new service roles and flexible work arrangements, expanding employment and income opportunities. (4) Digital platforms reduce information asymmetry, improve information transparency and traceability, and strengthen food safety governance. These mechanisms contribute to achieving SDG12. This study provides evidence based on regional food industries, illustrating how digital platforms can empower and link to SDG12 outcomes, and offers policy recommendations for sustainable development strategies supported by digital platforms.