Cheddar cheese comes in colors ranging from creamy white to vibrant orange. If you have ever wondered what accounts for this diversity of hues, there is a simple answer: annatto.

Annatto is a plant-based product that’s used as a food dye in various foods, including cheddar, other types of dairy, and some baked goods.

It's no coincidence that cheddars have the same color as a standard carrot. The orange in annatto derives from pigments known as carotenoids, also found in these root vegetables.

Adding annatto to cheddar has a minimal effect on quality, so whether you embrace or avoid it is, above all, a matter of personal preference.