What makes cheddar white, or yellow-orange?

What makes cheddar white, or yellow-orange?


This is also a question that I am frequently asked. As Canadians, generally speaking of course, we are under the impression that cheddar is naturally yellow-orange. I usually start by explaining that “the last time I checked milk was white not orange” so that would suggest that your yellow/orange cheddar is dyed and not naturally that lovely bright colour. One of the most common dyes used is Annatto,
a natural vegetable dye. This dye gives many cheese varieties, a yellow-orange hue. Annatto is odorless, tasteless and is not a preservative. Annatto coloring is extracted from the reddish coating that surrounds the seed of the Achiote trees found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world.