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Tim Hortons is testing the fake omelette — made with mung bean protein isolate — in two regions in southern Ontario. If it's a hit, the product will join the Beyond Meat plant-based burger and breakfast sausage already on the menu at Tim Hortons and A&Ws across Canada.

The fast food chains are meeting a growing demand for plant-based proteins from Canadians who've cut out or cut back their meat consumption, often for health reasons. But there are questions concerning the added health benefits of processed plant-based products, especially ones served at a fast food chain, because they're often high in sodium and saturated fat — just like their meaty counterparts. 

But Schwarcz, a chemistry professor and director of º«¹úÂãÎè's office for science and society, said the fast food items can still be enjoyed as an occasional treat — one that could be less taxing on the environment. According to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, livestock accounts for nearly 15 per cent of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions.