Spicy dispute over the origins of Flamin' Hot Cheetos winds up in court

A court case is underway to determine the inventor of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. A former executive is suing the company, alleging that they harmed his career after disputing his claim as the creator of the popular snack’s flavor. PepsiCo declined to comment on the lawsuit. The plaintiff, Richard Montañez, joined PepsiCo as a janitor in 1977. He claims to have accidentally developed the spicy flavor by dusting unflavored Cheetos with chili powder. Montañez approached the CEO to pitch the idea, leading to the introduction of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos in 1992. He continued to innovate and eventually held senior positions at PepsiCo. However, he alleges that the company later discredited him, which impacted his professional opportunities. Montañez is seeking damages for discrimination, fraud, and defamation.