Comprehensive Literature Review of Research on Online Food Safety

Food is the most basic requirement for human survival and development, and despite advancements in its large-scale production, the demand for food remains unmet. In many countries, the food industry has become one of the pillar industries. Safety is the most crucial aspect of food and also the primary criterion for the selection of food by consumers. In recent years, with the frequent occurrence of incidents related to food safety, particularly after the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic, studies on food safety have been increasing rapidly. For an in-depth analysis of the progress of food safety research, this study used CiteSpace for literature measurement to analyze relevant research studies in the Web of Science (WOS) database from 2001 to 2021 and to map keywords, authors, and institutions. Results indicated that research from the United States is comprehensive and research institutions are closely related. Since 2015, the number of periodicals included in the WOS has increased rapidly, and its influence has gradually increased. At present, the research hot spots in the field of food safety are the micro-subject of food safety, food safety products, food safety laws and regulations, and other related fields.