Solvent-diluted vegetable oils are analyzed for trace elements directly by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Conditions are described for analysis of 22 trace elements. Almost all forms of vegetable oils may be analyzed, from crude oil to degummed, refined, bleached, deodorized, and hardened, and nearly all types of lecithins and phosphatides, depending on dilution solvent. This procedure is suitable only when the elements are present in a solubilized form. When trace elements are present as fine particles (bleaching earth, catalysts, or rust), ICP-OES analysis results in poor recovery due to nebulization and atomization problems. The only suitable non-ashing direct method for these samples is graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy.