In which country did the snack cheese puff, made from extruded cornmeal, originate?

The cheese puff originated in the United States as an extruded cornmeal snack.

Cheese puffs are made by forcing a cornmeal-based dough through an extruder, which cooks and expands it into a light, porous shape. The pieces are then coated with cheese seasoning or another flavored powder. Their airy texture comes from moisture turning into steam during the high-temperature extrusion process.

The snack is sold under many regional brand names, including Cheetos, Cheez Doodles, Wotsits, and Nik-Naks. Cheetos were created by Charles Elmer Doolin in 1948, while the broader cheese-puff category includes many products made by different companies. Shapes range from curls and balls to short tubes.