Too broad a question.

Yes, they are safer, say, than eating the french fries or a quarter pounder with cheese, depending on the quantity of each (I assume a serving either way in my comparison). They are probably not as good as say a salad, even one from McDonalds, would be. "Quite a bit" is also a relative term.

Taken on its own, transfat is not the penultimate killer the media would have you think. Saturated fat is just as bad in quantity imho. Really what I am looking at is the total content consumed and the time period. If all you ever ate was Ramen noodles, or McDonalds French Fries, or even my tremendous Pemmican, then you are going to have problems.

If you are using it as a foodsource for a backpacking event, or as a survival backup, then I'd say there is no real need for concern. If you are using it as a between meal snack once in a while, then I'd say it is a darned sight better than a candy bar or a bag of chips or cookies or a doughnut. Noodles have a lower GI, which should be easier on you than a big sugar spike from the more traditional snack foods. Yes, fruits and veggies are better for you. I'm not sure a bag of peanuts would be, though.

We've been fed foods containing transfat for years. In moderation I don't consider them any worse than sugar or butter or bacon or biscuits or eggs. I think the hype is over-rated.