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Judge dismisses suit of ex-janitor who says he invented Flamin' Hot Cheetos

Judge dismisses suit of ex-janitor who says he invented Flamin' Hot Cheetos

Washington Post30-05-2025
For years, the purported origin story of Flamin' Hot Cheetos flourished through the internet and beyond as a spicy retelling of the American Dream, with self-proclaimed inventor of the snack Richard Montañez recounting how he came up with the idea while working as janitor for Frito-Lay.
But a Los Angeles Times investigation in 2021 threw a wrench into the rags-to-riches tale, with Frito-Lay disputing Montañez's claim and telling the newspaper that 'the facts do not support the urban legend.'
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