The long-standing and quite varied experiences of foreign objects at pressurized water reactor nuclear power plant. When tube degradation due to foreign objects occurs, there is a relatively high probability that primary-to-secondary leakage. This “low probability of occurrence/high probability of significance” situation highlighted the need for a high level of awareness and continued vigilance on the part of industry regarding foreign objects. The sources and migration processes of foreign objects on the secondary side in typical pressurized water reactor nuclear power plants were summarized. Strengthening the management of FME activities remained a key area that needed continuous improvement in the subsequent foreign object management work. Extensive data on foreign objects within steam generators were collected by Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and Suzhou nuclear power institute (SNPI). This information formed the basis of a comprehensive approach to proactive control of foreign objects and minimization of their impact on plant operation. SNPI reported a significantly higher annual average of foreign objects (73/year, 2004–2022), compared to EPRI's 11/year. foreign objects graded management was not implemented in SNPI, so the distribution patterns of foreign objects in the axial and radial directions were different from those of EPRI. Especially the distribution of axial foreign objects was relatively small. Comparing the flow field above the tube sheet, it was found that the probability of foreign object distribution on the tube sheet was positively correlated with the flow velocity in the region. The overall distribution of foreign objects showed that more than half of them were deposited in the highest velocity zone around the tube bundles. This study provides guidance for foreign object classification management, foreign object video inspection and tube wear assessment work.