Have efforts to cut trans fat in the American diet helped?

Health news seems to be full of gloom and doom much of the time, so brace yourself for some good tidings: Americans cut their intake of deadly trans fat by an incredible 58% between 2000 and 2009, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Trans fat is the type found in partially hydrogenated oils, which are used to prepare all kinds of fast foods (like French fries and fried fish) and packaged desserts and snacks, among other foods. These oils provide a nice texture and extend shelf life, but they have another rather unfortunate quality: They plug up your arteries like a cork in a bottle of Chardonnay, making you more likely to develop heart disease.

Growing awareness about the trans fat threat has led communities across the United States to pass laws prohibiting the use of partially hydrogenated oil. Some food companies and restaurants have stopped using them simply because it's good public policy and doesn't hurt relations to let you know they care about you.  Many fellow consumers are reading ingredients lists and avoiding foods that contain the evil oils. Whatever the reason these very bad fats are disappearing,  preventing thousands of heart attacks each year.