To them you're a racist if you act, speak, or dress like anyone who isn't from your tribe, or if you even celebrate their holidays. And of course, it generally only applies to white people, as if they're going to ruin every culture they touch.

Now this petty belief is ruining reputations and livelihoods. It Portland, Oregon, it forced two successful business owners to close up shop. Kali Wilgus and Liz 'LC' Connelly, who are two white women, started a burrito business several months ago called Kooks Burritos. It was an instant hit. Last week they revealed in an interview with a local newspaper, that they had learned some of their recipes during a trip to Mexico.

Explaining their trip, Connelly told the newspaper: 'I picked the brains of every tortilla lady there in the worst broken Spanish ever, and they showed me a little of what they did.

'In Puerto Nuevo, you can eat $5 lobster on the beach, which they give you with this bucket of tortillas. They are handmade flour tortillas that are stretchy and a little buttery, and best of all, unlimited.

'They wouldn't tell us too much about technique, but we were peeking into the windows of every kitchen, totally fascinated by how easy they made it look. We learned quickly it isn't quite that easy.'