Objective Assessing the risk-benefit of nitrate in vegetables, and to provide the guidance for risk-benefit assessment in food or nutrient. Methods Primary and secondary risk-benefit assessment for nitrate in vegetables was performed on the basis of BRAFO (benefit risk analysis for food) model, combined with intake assessment of nitrate and qualitative comparison of nitrate in vegetables. Results The average vegetable consumption of Chinese resident changed from less than 300 to 300-500 g/d, the benefits were larger than risk, alternative scenario was superior to reference scenario which was recommended. Conclusion The method of grading assessment of risks and benefits of food is scientific and reasonable, which need to further strengthen the research of epidemiology and toxicology, to optimize the model parameters. Combining probabilistic assessment with the risk-benefit assessment studies could reduce the uncertainty.