# Why is american cheese orange? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 8, 2007, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-american-cheese-orange/407204 "2007-06-08T00:39:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![morgantire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/97f17d/32.png) [@morgantire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/morgantire)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-american-cheese-orange/407204/1 "2007-06-08T00:39:03Z")
Why is american cheese orange? Cheddar cheese from every other country is white, so I’m assuming the orange coloring must be some sort of additive. But what? And how in the world did the practice of adding orange coloring to cheese start? Why orange, as opposed to green or blue or yellow? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-american-cheese-orange/407204/2 "2007-06-08T00:41:04Z")
[http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a981002b.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a981002b.html) ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-american-cheese-orange/407204/3 "2007-06-08T00:42:39Z")
I didn’t realize American cheese and cheddar cheese were the same thing? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-american-cheese-orange/407204/4 "2007-06-08T00:46:20Z")
[QUOTE=Rigamarole] I didn’t realize American cheese and cheddar cheese were the same thing? [/QUOTE] They aren’t exactly the same of course but American cheese is a processed version of cheddar cheese. The reasons and methods they use to dye them are about the same. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-american-cheese-orange/407204/5 "2007-06-08T01:39:56Z")
> [@](#): > > They aren’t exactly the same of course but American cheese is a processed version of cheddar cheese. I believe you are referring to american cheese food (Kraft singles) as opposed to actual american cheese (Kraft Deli Deluxe). As far as I know, quality american cheese is actual cheese. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-american-cheese-orange/407204/6 "2007-06-08T02:21:21Z")
Also, white cheddar is widely available in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-american-cheese-orange/407204/7 "2007-06-08T02:23:07Z")
[QUOTE=morgantire] Why orange, as opposed to green or blue or yellow? [/QUOTE] Or as opposed to red white and blue?? ---
**Author:** ![amber03](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c37758/32.png) [@amber03](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amber03)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-american-cheese-orange/407204/8 "2007-06-08T02:28:02Z")
[QUOTE=friedo] Also, white cheddar is widely available in the US. [/QUOTE] As is white american cheese. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-american-cheese-orange/407204/9 "2007-06-08T02:49:52Z")
There’s American Cheese, and American cheese. Either way, American gets capitalized folks. /nitpik ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-american-cheese-orange/407204/10 "2007-06-08T03:23:17Z")
[QUOTE=levdrakon] Location: Monterey, CA [/QUOTE] Which _actually is_ the ancestral home of [Monterey Jack](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monterey_Jack_Cheese) cheese. ---
**Author:** ![amber03](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c37758/32.png) [@amber03](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amber03)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-american-cheese-orange/407204/11 "2007-06-08T03:24:35Z")
[QUOTE=levdrakon] There’s American Cheese, and American cheese. Either way, American gets capitalized folks. /nitpik [/QUOTE] One more “nitpick” (2 actually, or 3…see later) 1. “nitpick” is spelled with a “c” 2. a “/” close tag should have an opening tag 3. i noticed the fact that i did not capitalize, but guests cannot edit. not that i would care anyway… ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-american-cheese-orange/407204/12 "2007-06-08T03:27:30Z")
> [@](#): > > There’s American Cheese, and American cheese. Either way, American gets capitalized folks. > > /nitpik :Sticking tongue out at **levdrakon** face: ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-american-cheese-orange/407204/13 "2007-06-08T03:36:16Z")
[QUOTE=levdrakon] There’s American Cheese, and American cheese. Either way, American gets capitalized folks. /nitpik [/QUOTE] Not to mention processed and homogenized. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-american-cheese-orange/407204/14 "2007-06-08T03:56:50Z")
> [@](#): > > Not to mention processed and homogenized. Are you talking about American cheese or American cheese food? ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-american-cheese-orange/407204/15 "2007-06-08T05:56:21Z")
[QUOTE=Christopher] Are you talking about American cheese or American cheese food? [/QUOTE] Whoosh 🙂 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-american-cheese-orange/407204/16 "2007-06-08T07:08:48Z")
Yep, **groman** I deserved that woosh. Now I see, **Christopher** had to process and homogenize his post because I just didn’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-american-cheese-orange/407204/17 "2007-06-08T11:01:21Z")
Cheddar cheese comes in a range of colours in the UK, from white through to near red. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-american-cheese-orange/407204/18 "2007-06-08T11:54:55Z")
> [@](#): > > Now I see, Christopher had to process and homogenize his post because I just didn’t get it. I guess that I don’t see how American cheese is any more processed than any other cheese, so I’m not sure if you were mistaking American cheese food (ie Kraft Singles) for American cheese. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-american-cheese-orange/407204/19 "2007-06-08T15:01:01Z")
[QUOTE=Christopher] I believe you are referring to american cheese food (Kraft singles) as opposed to actual american cheese (Kraft Deli Deluxe). As far as I know, quality american cheese is actual cheese. [/QUOTE] Yes, there is a type of cheddar that is sometimes known as American cheese. However, Kraft Deli Deluxe is a processed cheese that has been emulsified. [You can read about it here.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Processed_cheese) It’s made from real cheese stuff, but, IMHO, it doesn’t quite have the correct texture of cheese. That said, I bought some yesterday for my grilled cheese sandwiches, so it ain’t all bad. ’ ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-american-cheese-orange/407204/20 "2007-06-08T15:22:16Z")
Kraft Deli Delux does not come in individually wrapped slices. I see nothing on the site that indicates that Kraft Deli Delux is anything other than real cheese. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-american-cheese-orange/407204.md?page=2)