Risk-benefit assessment (RBA) weights the risks and the benefits of food consumption by the risk and benefit characteristics. It is an open, continuously established and improved application method system. RBA research in the field of food safety is an important basis for formulating food safety policies and decisions, and guiding scientific consumption. This review outlines the construction of a framework for risk-benefit assessment in food safety, as well as the method and process of risk benefit assessment of different levels of food (food components or meals). Finally, some challenges and prospects of this research field are proposed.