Why do they make American Cheese in two colors?

American cheese isn't actually made in two colors. It's made in a single color, typically a pale orange.

The color is due to annatto, a natural food coloring derived from the seeds of the achiote tree.

The reason for the orange color is a bit of a historical quirk:

* Early American cheesemakers used annatto to give their cheese a more appealing color, as naturally white cheese can appear bland and unappetizing.

* Consumers came to associate orange with "good" cheese, and the color became a standard expectation.

So, while American cheese can come in different shades of orange depending on the brand and the amount of annatto used, it's always a single color, not two.

The illusion of two colors might come from:

* Sliced American cheese packaging often displays a single slice with both the orange and the white edge, giving the impression of two colors.

* Processed cheese food sometimes uses a combination of natural and artificial colors, which can result in a more distinct contrast between the colors.

Let me know if you have any other cheese-related questions! 🧀