To understand the situation of food pollution of lead, cadmium and mercury in Inner Mongolia during 2010-2011, provide basic evidence for the establishment of heavy metal food safety risk surveillance system, and discover the potential problems of heavy metal contamination in food.MethodsAccording to surveillance plan, samples were collected from 5regions of the middle, east and west of Inner Mongolia separately. The lead, cadmium and mercury content in food was measured according to national standard method (GB 5009.12-2010, GB/T 5009.17-2003, GB/T 5009.15-2003). Results1654samples from 7food categories were monitored during 2010-2011. 1610samples were tested for lead, the detection rate was 33.40%, and the violation rate was 1.62%. Violation rates of vegetable, eggs, foodgrains and mushroom were 5.16%, 2.21%, 2.20% and 2.01%, respectively. 1607samples were tested for cadmium, the detection rate was 48.60%, and the violation rate was 1.74%. Violation rates of mushroom, vegetable and eggs were 10.20%, 5.41% and 4.97%, respectively. 1531samples were tested for mercury, the detection rate was 37.30%, and the violation rate was 2.08%. Violation rates of mushroom, milk and dairy products and foodgrains were 20.13%, 7.02% and 1.20%, respectively.ConclusionMushroom, vegetable, eggs and foodgrains were contaminated by heavy metal in Inner Mongolia.