Lynne Greenfeld

The real inventor of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.

Now married and known as Lynne Lemmel.

Credit usurped by Richard Montañez.

“None of our records show that Richard was involved in any capacity in the Flamin’ Hot test market,” Frito-Lay wrote in a statement to the Los Angeles Times. “We have interviewed multiple personnel who were involved in the test market, and all of them indicate that Richard was not involved in any capacity in the test market. That doesn’t mean we don’t celebrate Richard, but the facts do not support the urban legend.”

It wasn’t until 1991, Montañez says, that he pitched his product ideas in-person to former Frito-Lay executive Al Carey and then-PepsiCo CEO Roger Enrico, in two separate meetings. Carey also verified some of Montañez’s involvement in the Flamin’ Hot line to LAT.

But, the Times reports that Enrico did not yet work for the company when the Flamin’ Hot brand was developed. According to the Times, Enrico’s “move to Frito-Lay was announced in December 1990, and he took over control at the beginning of 1991 — nearly six months after Flamin’ Hots were already out in the test market.”+

PepsiCo CEO Roger Enrico: “I Own the New Frito-Lay”