To understand the contamination level of mercury in all kinds of foods, and to assess the daily intake of total mercury and the possible adverse health impact.Methods 2 047 samples, including grain, vegetable, fruit, meat, fish and other foods were collected from Shaanxi Province, according to the surveillance plan. The dietary intake of total mercury was calculated using the test results and the results of total diet study in Shaanxi in 2002, using the PTWI recommended by WHO as reference. The health risk was assessed by using USEPA health risk assessment model. Results The content of mercury ranged from 0.001 31 to 0.013 3 mg/kg, the detection rate and the violation rate were 60.57% and 0.93%, respectively. The average and the higher dietary intake of mercury were 3.51×10-5 mg/kg and 1.61×10-4 mg/kg, respectively, and both of them were less than the dietary mercuric PTWI recommended by WHO. The individual health risk of mercury was lower than the standard of ICRP, which means the Shaanxi inhabitants’ total diet was safe. Conclusion Overall, the market food of Shaanxi was safe, and the health risk of dietary mercury was negligibly small.