Social co-governance is an important prerequisite for the modernization of food safety governance capabilities. On the basis of sorting out the relevant literature at home and abroad, a review is made on the connotation and role of modernization of food safety governance capabilities and social co-governance. The analysis shows that the realization of the modernization of food safety governance capabilities depends on the cooperation of governments, enterprises and society to form a pattern of social co-governance. Although most domestic literatures have focused on food safety governance and social co-governance of food safety, the research on the analysis of modernization of food safety governance capabilities combined with social co-governance theory needs to be further deepened, and it is also the direction for further efforts in the future.