<P> American cheese product is a type of processed cheese . It can be orange, yellow, or white in color, is mild, salty, and faintly sweet in flavor, has a medium - firm consistency, and has a very low melting point . </P> <P> Very early in its history, American cheese was only white in color--as it was made from a blend of cheeses (most often including cheddar cheese) which were originally only white . However, the later versions are often a yellow hue due to the addition of annatto, a sweet and nutty seasoning added to cheddar and to Colby so that by the late 1800s American cheese was often simply called "yellow cheese". </P>

How much real cheese is in american cheese