Heavy metals are chemical elements with a toxic effect on the human body. The expansion of industries has led to significant increasing levels of these constituents in the environment. Intensive agriculture can also lead to an increased concentration of heavy metals as a result of using different fertilizers and pesticides. Heavy metal accumulation in soil and plants represents a serious issue because of the potential risks to consumers. There are several methods available for the removal of these toxic components from different substrates (chemical precipitation, electrodialysis, coagulation and flocculation, photocatalytic removal, and adsorption-based processes), but most procedures are expensive and difficult to perform. Thus, more research is needed on the development of low-cost methods in foods. This work represents a review on the heavy metal presence in different food substrates (such as fruits and vegetables, milk and dairy products, meat and meat derivatives, oils, and alcoholic beverages) and provides an overview of the current situation worldwide, taking into account the fact that risks for human health are induced by the intensification of industry and the high degree of pollution. Considering that the toxicological quality of food affects its acceptability, this work provides valuable data regarding the actual situation on the proposed topic.

Measurement of antioxidant capacity represents an analytical major challenge in terms of accuracy, efficiency, rapid response, or low cost of detection methods. Quantification of antioxidant capacity of food samples using disposable screen‐printed microelectrodes (SPMEs) was based on cyclic voltammetry versus open-circuit potential (CV vs OCP) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) as compared with spectrophotometric measurement of the CUPRAC reaction with 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid (trolox). The SPMEs are organic‐resistant electrodes and thus compatible with food samples and organic solvents used to dissolve trolox. A micropipette was used to release a drop of 50 μL sample on the spotted surface of the SPME sensor/working electrode that was time programmed to function according to the working protocol. The SPME response was linearly correlated with trolox content. This preliminary demonstration was focused on the analysis of tea infusions, due to the simplicity and reproducibility of the samples’ preparations involved. Analytical results of the antioxidant capacity (expressed as mol·L⁻¹ trolox equivalents) of the tea samples showed a good agreement in the case of spectrophotometry and differential pulse voltammetry (R² > 0.998). DPV with SPME based on CUPRAC reactions was proven to be a promising approach for the characterization of antioxidant capacity of tea samples with rapid response, cost-effectiveness, and simplicity of operation.