Objective To understand the contamination level of glycidyl esters (GE) in edible vegetable oils and to evaluate the dietary exposure risk of GE in Shanghai residents. Methods Based on the monitoring data of GE in edible vegetable oil sold in Shanghai in 2024, combined with the vegetable oil consumption data of Shanghai residents in 2024, the GE exposure of Shanghai residents via vegetable oil was calculated by simple distribution assessment method, and the margin of exposure (MOE) method was used to assess the health risk. Results The detection rate of GE in 178 edible vegetable oils was 94.4%, with an average content of 360.8 μg/kg and a maximum value of 5470.0 μg/kg. According to the EU regulations on the limit values of GE in vegetable oils, it was found that the exceeding standard rate of GE in vegetable oil was 5.6%. The mean content of GE in rice oil (1169.3 μg/kg) was the highest, followed by camellia seed oil (657.8 μg/kg) and corn oil (499.0 μg/kg). The mean daily exposure and 95th percentile exposure of GE from edible vegetable oils in Shanghai residents aged ≥3 years old were 0.208 and 0.497 μg/kg bw, the MOE values were 11538 and 4829, respectively, and P₉₅ MOE was less than 10000. The mean MOE value of GE exposure through vegetable oil in residents aged 3 to 17 years old was less than 10000. The P₉₅ MOE values of GE exposure through vegetable oil in 4 different age groups were all less than 10000. Conclusion The health risk of GE intake via edible vegetable oil in Shanghai residents is generally at an acceptable level. However, the health risks of GE exposure for individuals aged 3 to 17 year old and those with high consumption of vegetable oil still need to be focused.