There are many kinds of chemical hazards in food， and their contents are generally at trace and ultra trace levels. Because the food matrix is complex， it is very important to select appropriate sample preparation techniques to obtain reliable detection results at low concentration level. According to the detection needs of different types of compounds and the characteristics and analysis purposes of different food matrices， this paper discusses the selection of sample preparation technique based on the experience in the development of sample preparation methods for food chemical hazards in the recent 10 years. A practical sample preparation method selection strategy based on "food matrix" and "target analyte" is proposed. And the progress of cutting-edge technique is reviewed. In addition， on the basis of application examples， suggestions on the development of sample preparation methods are put forward to provide references for grassroots technicians to select reliable sample preparation methods.