Objective To evaluate dietary exposure of sorbic acid and potassium sorbate and their potential health risks of residents in Jiangxi Province. Methods The concentration data of sorbic acid of 28 kinds of foods were obtained from food safety monitoring in Jiangxi Province in 2012-2016. The food consumption data were obtained from food consumption survey in Jiangxi Province in 2016. Based on the deterministic assessment model,the dietary exposure of sorbic acid and potassium sorbate of residents in Jiangxi Province was calculated. Results The average dietary exposure of sorbic acid and potassium sorbate was 0.031 mg/kg BW per day,only accounting for 1.03% of acceptable daily intake(ADI). The large portion exposure (P95) of sorbic acid and potassium sorbate was 0.085 mg/kg BW per day,only accounting for 2.83% of ADI. It was indicated that the main dietary sources of sorbic acid were cakes,rice products and cooked meat products,which were contributed more than 75% of total dietary exposure of sorbic acid and potassium sorbate.If the application of sorbic acid and potassium sorbate in food followed National Food Safety Standard for Food Additive Use (GB 2760-2014),the average exposure would decrease by 25.7%-49.5%,P95 exposure would decrease by 14.5%-27.9%. Cakes, fruit or vegetable juices and new soybean products were the main dietary sources of sorbic acid and potassium sorbate. Conclusion It suggested that the potential health risks caused by dietary exposure to sorbic acid and potassium sorbate of residents in Jiangxi Province was at an acceptable level,but the abuse of food additives needed to be concerned.