To investigate and identify the contamination of main foodborne pathogens in Shanxi province.Methods According to the standard operation procedures in the handbook of 2010 National Surveillance on Foodborne Pathogens. Results Among 1 576 food samples tested, 149 (9.45%) pathogenic strains were isolated. The positive rate for L.monocytogenes was the highest (9.50%), followed by V.parahemolyticus (8.22%), S.aureus (3.02%), E.sakazakii (1.11%) and Salmonella (0.87%). A high prevalence of foodborne pathogens was shown in meat (49.33%), the main contaminating bacteria were Salmonella and L.monocytogenes, followed by salad (17.39%), the main contaminating bacteria were L.monocytogenes and S.aureus; raw aquatic (16.94%), the main contaminating bacteria were L.monocytogenes and V.parahemolyticus; cooked meat (9.84%), the main contaminating bacteria were L.monocytogenes, S.aureus and Salmonella; Chinese salad (8.89%), the main contaminating bacteria was S.aureus; fresh juice (6.67%), the main contaminating bacteria was S.aureus; fresh and frozen aquatic products (5.00%), the main contaminating bacteria was V.parahemolyticus. The detection rate was 1.11% for E.sakazaki in baby formula milk powder/rice noodles/valley powder/soy.Conclusion Foodborne pathogens were frequently found in retail foods in Shanxi, it was necessary to strengthen the monitoring of food.