Cheddar cheese gets its color from a natural plant-based pigment called annatto. Annatto is extracted from the seeds of the achiote tree, which is native to tropical regions of Central and South America.
Annatto is often added to cheese as a coloring agent to give it a more appetizing and consistent orange color. However, not all cheddar cheese is orange. Some cheddar cheese may have a white or yellow color, depending on the quality and quantity of the annatto used, or whether it's been aged for a longer period.
Additionally, some cheddar cheese producers may opt to skip the use of annatto altogether, especially those who focus on producing traditional or artisanal cheese varieties.