Cheetos are one of the most popular snack foods in the world. They are known for their signature crunch (which increases the sensory experience of chewing), cheesy exterior, and easy-to-snack-on shape. Cheetos (and other cheese puff brands) have become a staple party food in recent years, but how many people know of this product's origins?
Cheese puffs were first made in 1935, though not intentionally. Flakall Corporation was an animal feed manufacturer that opened during the great depression. It made food for rabbits, which were good animals to keep during the depression, as they were easy to care for, would reproduce quickly, and would provide a good source of meat. Flakall Corporation was successful and decided to expand into feed for other animals. In 1935, the company's president patented a larger feed grinder, which would prove hard to clean.
While testing cleaning methods for the cow-feed grinder, Edward Wilson, a Flakall machinist, noticed that the machine produced small corn puffs as a biproduct. Curious about the potential of the machine waste, he brought some home and experimented with seasonings. Flakall Corporation was impressed, and decided to sell the product as "Korn Kurls".
Edward Wilson transferred his stock and rights to production to another Flakall employee, Melbourne Reed. Reed and his wife were also known for experimenting with corn puff flavors.
Charles Elmer Doolin, founder of Frito and inventor of the product of the same name, created the Cheeto in 1948. The Cheeto was similar to the Korn Kurl, though they were different enough to avoid a lawsuit.
Though Reed's Food Products slowed down during World War II (there were rations on cheese, corn, and oil), Reed would continue to run the company until he sold it to the Adams Corporation (Flakall Corporation had renamed itself in order to rebrand as a human food company) for health reasons in 1951.
In 1990, Adams Corporation was purchased by Maddox Metal Works, a company partnered with Frito. Frito would eventually merge with H.W. Lay & Company, becoming Frito-Lay. Frito-Lay is now the number one snack food brand in the world, and Cheetos are one of their most popular items.
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