Trace elements are crucial for human nutrition, requiring their precise analysis in fruit juices to ensure product quality and assess contamination risks. Atomic spectroscopy techniques including inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS), flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS), X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), and glow discharge optical emission spectrometry (GD-OES) are sensitive, selective and versatile tools for trace element analysis of various solid and solution samples. Matrix modifiers, sample introduction and sample preparation methods are pivotal for improving the accuracy and mitigating matrix interferences. Further advancements in instrumentation are essential. This review provides a comprehensive overview of these techniques, highlighting their principles, advantages, limitations and future research directions in fruit juice analysis. Its global applications, focusing on As, Cd, Co, and Pb, along with sample preparation methods, element concentrations, detection limits, and recovery values, have been explored.

HR-CS-GFAAS methods were developed for the fast determination of Cu in domestic and commercially available Hungarian distilled alcoholic beverages (called pálinka), in order to decide if their Cu content exceeds the permissible limit, as legislated by the WHO. Some microliters of samples were directly dispensed into the atomizer. Graphite furnace heating programs, effects/amounts of the Pd modifier, alternative wavelengths (e.g., Cu I 249.2146 nm), external calibration and internal standardization methods were studied. Applying a fast graphite furnace heating program without any chemical modifier, the Cu content of a sample could be quantitated within 1.5 min. The detection limit of the method is 0.03 mg/L. Calibration curves are linear up to 10–15 mg/L Cu. Spike-recoveries ranged from 89% to 119% with an average of 100.9 ± 8.5%. Internal calibration could be applied with the assistance of Cr, Fe, and/or Rh standards. The accuracy of the GFAAS results was verified by TXRF analyses.

Direct analysis in atomic spectroscopy offers an efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional digestion-based methods for trace element detection and quantification in food matrices. This review explores applications of direct sample analysis across liquid, semi-liquid and solid food types, including fruit juice, milk and dairy products, alcoholic beverages, honey, fats and oils, seeds and nuts, milk powders, seafood, vegetables, powdered plant-based beverages, and cereals. Elements such as Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, and Pb have been successfully quantified using direct sampling approaches. Analytical techniques such as AAS, ICP-MS, ICP-OES, GD-OES, XRF are critically evaluated, besides hydride generation, MIP-OES, HPLC coupling, laser ionization, and thermospray-assisted approaches. The review emphasizes key aspects influencing analytical performance parameters, matrix effects, reagent usage and measurement conditions. It identifies methodological gaps and suggests future directions to enhance applicability and reliability of direct food analysis using diverse atomic spectrometry techniques.