Court Case to Determine the True Inventor of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos
- A former executive at PepsiCo has filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming that they ruined his professional reputation over his assertion of inventing Flamin' Hot Cheetos.
- The lawsuit points to alleged damages to his career as a direct consequence of the company's denials of his invention claim.
- This case raises questions about intellectual property and recognition in the food industry.
A legal battle is brewing over the origins of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, with former PepsiCo executive Richard Montañez claiming he invented the popular snack flavor. Montañez has filed a lawsuit against the company, alleging that it damaged his career after he challenged their narrative regarding the creation of the spicy snack. The lawsuit, submitted to California Superior Court on July 18, has prompted PepsiCo to refrain from commenting on the ongoing legal proceedings. Montañez, who grew up in a migrant labor camp as the son of a Mexican immigrant, recounts a pivotal moment when a machine malfunction left a batch of unflavored Cheetos. He claims to have taken the opportunity to create a spicy version by adding chili powder, inspired by the traditional Mexican dish elote. According to Montañez, his innovative idea led to a meeting with a senior executive, who subsequently directed the company to develop the spicy snack, which was officially launched in 1992. Despite his successful career trajectory, which included a promotion to vice president of multicultural marketing and the release of a memoir, Montañez alleges that PepsiCo turned against him in 2021. This shift followed a Los Angeles Times article suggesting that other employees were already working on spicy snacks prior to Montañez's involvement. He claims this has adversely affected his speaking engagements and other opportunities, prompting him to seek damages for discrimination, fraud, and defamation.