Abstract: Outbreaks of foodborne diseases prompted researchers to look for faster and more effective ways to monitor microorganisms in food. Predictive microbial models quantify the impact of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on microbial behavior in food for food risk management and product development. The cardinal parameters model is one of the secondary models, which is suitable for the determination of microbial growth under the combined action of various environmental factors. As cardinal parameters model has been refined in recent years, it has developed into an important tool for the study of microorganisms. Firstly, this article introduces the concept of the cardinal parameters model and the most widely used cardinal parameters models at this stage. Then it introduces the extension and optimization of cardinal parameters models and their application in food safety in recent years, and finally gives an outlook on future research directions.