As a high-priority issue for sustainable global development, food security requires attention to both the quantity and quality of food. Trace elements pose a complex challenge for food security in this context; they can be beneficial as essential micronutrients or harmful as toxic contaminants that compromise food safety and public health. Consequently, advanced analytical tools, particularly elemental analysis, are employed to verify food quality, authenticity, and traceability. Since its first application in 1936 neutron activation analysis has proven to be a powerful analytical technique for determining the elemental composition of a wide variety of samples. The method's widespread adoption is due to its numerous benefits, including its multi-element character, non-destructive nature, high sensitivity and precision, ultra-low detection limits, and simple sample preparation. These advantages have led to its use in critical fields such as food safety, agriculture, and environmental monitoring. The paper provides an introduction to the biological role and toxicity of trace elements, discusses the fundamental principles, strengths, and limitations of neutron activation analysis, and presents an overview of NAA applications in food analysis, along with a summary of key findings.