In the present study, we collected the information of the 18 major food safety incidents and conducted a delphi survey with 10 experts to analyze the effect of difference between terms used in reporting of the major food safety incidents on risk communication. In the result of the analysis of information from the major food safety incidents, discord of terms used from government, local government, media and consumer groups had a tremendous effect on the socioeconomic losses and caused the expansion of the incidents. The survey with 10 experts showed that there was a high correlation between the difference in ripple effect of reporting terms and the difference in reporting terms. A correlation coefficient was 0.865. Therefore, ripple effect of incidents was significantly affected by reporting terms and we concluded that standardization of term is necessary in reporting of the food safety incidents. These results can be used as a basic material for successful risk communication among the government, enterprises and consumers.