Final answer:
The appearance of trans fatty acids in a food product indicates the presence of hydrogenated fats and potential health risks.
Step-by-step explanation:
The appearance of trans fatty acids in a food product indicates the presence of hydrogenated fats. Trans-fatty acids are by-products of the hydrogenation process, which is used to convert vegetable oils into semi-solid fats. During hydrogenation, some of the cis double bonds in the oil are converted into trans double bonds, resulting in the formation of trans fatty acids.
Research reports indicate that trans-fatty acids can affect blood cholesterol levels, increasing the amount of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), which are considered bad cholesterol. Therefore, the presence of trans fatty acids in a food product suggests that it may have health risks associated with it.