N-nitroso compounds, as one of the major food contaminants, are widely present in food and pose hazards such as carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, and mutagenicity, thus being a key focus in food safety monitoring. Although significant progress has been made in the research on N-nitroso compounds, the studies on their metabolic mechanisms and reduction and control measures are still disconnected to a certain extent. Through a review of the classification, detection methods, and toxic effects of N-nitroso compounds, this article analyzes the intrinsic connection between their metabolic pathways in the body and the strategies for external reduction and control, aiming to provide theoretical references for the development of more targeted risk control technologies.