Judge Dismisses ‘Flamin’ Hot’ Cheetos Inventor’s Defamation, Discrimination Claims

( May 29, 2025, 12:48 PM EDT) -- LOS ANGELES — A California federal judge on May 28 granted PepsiCo Inc. and Frito-Lay Inc.’s motions to strike and to dismiss a lawsuit brought against them by a former executive who says he invented the “Flamin’ Hot” variety of Cheetos snacks and claimed that the company defamed him and cost him the opportunity to be featured in a documentary by casting doubt on his inventorship claims....