To obtain the intakes of lead, cadmium and total mercury from food in different populations in Shaoxing, and to evaluate the risk of lead, cadmium and total mercury from food.Methods The food samples were collected and the contents of lead, cadmium and total mercury were detected, the exposure levels of lead, cadmium and total mercury from food in Shaoxing were assessed by combination with the survey results of dietary consumption of residents in Shaoxing in 2008. Results The weekly exposure level of lead ranged from 5.26 to 13.1 μg/kg BW, which accounted for 21.0%-52.4% of the PTWI in different gender and age groups, and the MOE value of lead was 1.02; the monthly exposure level of cadmium ranged from 16.0 to 39.4 μg/kg BW, which accounted for 64.0%-157.6% of the PTMI in different gender and age groups, the dietary cadmium exposure of men aged 2-6 and 7-17 and women aged 2-6 exceeded the PTMI (25 μg/kg BW); the weekly exposure level of total mercury ranged from 0.67 to 2.02 μg/kg BW, which accounted for 16.8%-50.5% of the PTWI in different gender and age groups.Conclusion The dietary exposure levels of total mercury were safe, but the dietary exposure levels of lead and cadmium were relatively high, especially for the population under 18 years of age. It was necessary to strengthen the lead and cadmium surveillance in related food and provide dietary guidance for residents.