# Pistachio nuts

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistachio-nuts/147876>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 11, 2003, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistachio-nuts/147876 "2003-01-11T01:53:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistachio-nuts/147876/1 "2003-01-11T01:53:43Z")

</div>

Why, pray tell, do they add red dye to pistachio nuts. I’ve bought them in their natural state (no dye) and there is no differance in taste, and also no finger staining.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistachio-nuts/147876/2 "2003-01-11T02:06:20Z")

</div>

The Master Speaks:

[Why are pistachios colored red?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mpistachio.html)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pistachio-nuts/147876/3 "2003-01-11T02:07:43Z")

</div>

Actually, it was one of the Master’s elves.