Trans fats are made by blowing hydrogen into unsaturated fats. They have been used in the food industry as a means of enhancing palatability and extending the shelf life of their preparations. They are certainly not good for you as they increase the likelihood of cardiovascular disease by messing with cholesterol levels. Nothing in discussions of the UK diet ever appears to provide a clear message. A recent study has suggested that banning trans fats from foods (including cakes and biscuits) could save thousands of lives and reduce expenditure of the NHS by millions of pounds (http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/sep/15/trans-fats-ban-could-save-7200-lives-study). Other Nutritionists have countered, suggesting that the amount of trans fats in UK diets (with the possible exception of 'the poor'), is already below safe upper limits and is falling. It becomes very hard, under such circumstances, to really advise the general public. Confusion always seems to reign.
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