Objective Analyze the food safety standard management of food additives nitrate and nitrite used in meat products. Analyze the food safety standard management of food additives nitrates and nitrite used in meat products.Methods The future direction of national food safety standard management is discussed through the analysis of the standards of Codex Alimentarius, the United States of America, Canada, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Republic of Korea and China, combined with risk assessment results, monitoring data and food poisoning incident data. Through the analysis of the standards of Codex Alimentarius, the United States of America, Canada, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Republic of Korea and China, combined with risk assessment result, monitoring reports and food poisoning incident data analysis, to discuss the future direction of national food safety standard management.Results From the perspective of process control, operability of final product testing and practical detection at import-export ports, the United States of America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand set the maximum use level, while Japan and the Republic of Korea set the maximum residual level. At the same time, the European Union sets the maximum use level or residual level according to the specific food products. China sets both the maximum use level and the residual level, and the N-dimethyl nitrosamine is regulated as pollutant in the corresponding food categories. The dietary exposure result indicates that nitrate and nitrite used as food additives have a low contribution to dietary exposure, therefore they pose low food safety risks to the public. From the perspective of production and processing process control, operability of final product testing, or practical detection at import and export ports. The United States of America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand set the maximum use level, while Japan and the Republic of Korea set the maximum residual level. At the same time, the European Union set the maximum use level or residual level according to the specific food products. China set both the maximum use level and the residual level, and the N-dimethyl nitrosamine is regulated as pollutant in the corresponding food categories. The dietary exposure result indicated that nitrate and nitrite used as food additives have a low contribution to dietary exposure, therefore they pose lower food safety risks to the public.Conclusion Although maintaining the maximum use level and residual level of nitrate and nitrite in the food safety standard is in line with the process control principles and actual regulatory requirements, it is still recommended to continue to carry out research on improvement of food processing technology and alternatives of these food additives, and it is necessary to go on promoting food safety education for consumers and catering industry to prevent food poisoning caused by misuse of nitrites and nitrates. Although maintaining the maximum use level and residual level of nitrate and nitrite in the food safety standard is in line with the process control principles and actual regulatory requirements, it is still recommended to continue to carry out research on improvement of food processing technology and alternatives of these food additives, and it is necessary to go on promoting food safety education for consumers and catering industry to prevent food poisoning caused by misuse of nitrites and nitrates.