As an increasingly concerned social phenomenon, food waste has not yet attracted enough attention from academia. Till now, the theoretical study on food waste is weak both at home and abroad, and there is still not yet a complete theoretical system and sophisticated research methods. As an important part of food losses, the food waste occurs in all aspects of the food supply chain. This includes many characteristics, such as diverse forms, complex formative factors, unique production purpose, and different judgment standards in different countries and cultures. Quantitative measurement of food waste, food waste comprehensive assessment, the driving forces of food waste, food waste monitoring and control are the main contents in the existing food waste literature. The use of multidisciplinary research methods will help further advance the research in food waste. Empirical research, systems analysis, economic model analysis, life cycle analysis and ecological footprint method are the primary methods in this field. Based on these findings and the social demands, future food waste study in China should focus mainly on the following five areas: 1) The comprehensive research on food waste in catering services; 2) the in-depth study on household food waste; 3) the school food waste research; 4) research on the processing and use of wasted food; and 5) policy oriented research on food waste.