Is There Red Dye in Cheddar Cheese? The Truth About Annatto
                                
                                
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                                    3 min read                                
                            
                                Historically, the practice of coloring cheese began centuries ago to indicate quality, leading to the use of colorants like annatto. Today, the common orange or yellow color in cheddar cheese is not a synthetic red dye, but a natural, plant-based additive derived from achiote tree seeds. This practice persists due to consumer expectations and market preference.