A food label lists 'partially hydrogenated soybean oil' among ingredients. Which is the most appropriate interpretation of this ingredient for cardiovascular health?

• A. Partially hydrogenated oils are high in cis-MUFAs which are universally cardioprotective and recommended for daily use.
• B. Such oils are primarily short-chain fatty acids and therefore will be immediately metabolized by gut microbes with no effect on blood lipids.
• C. This indicates presence of industrial trans fats that should be minimized because they increase LDL, decrease HDL, and can accumulate in tissues due to poor enzymatic processing.
• D. This indicates that the food contains essential omega‑3 fatty acids in abundance and no other dietary changes are necessary to improve cardiovascular risk profiles.

Answer: (C)