Is Cheddar cheese Safe for Kidney Stones? (Safe)
mg oxalate
per serving
Serving: 1 oz (28 g)
Verdict: 🟢 Safe
Per 100g: 0 mg
Data: Harvard T.H. Chan SPH (2024)
Here's the takeaway: Cheddar cheese earns a Safe rating (🟢) at 0 mg oxalate per serving. Being under 25 mg means it fits comfortably in everyday eating. Keep your usual habits — adequate fluids and calcium in meals — and Cheddar cheese poses no special concern.
Putting Cheddar cheese in context: it lands well below the category average of 3 mg. In the database, 95% of dairy & eggs (87 of 91) fall in the 🟢 Safe group (under 25 mg oxalate/serving). The typical dairy & eggs here averages 3 mg oxalate per serving, so Cheddar cheese runs 100% below that baseline. That places it among the lower-oxalate options in its category. Why this matters: the gap between two Safe foods can be wide — one may hold 5 mg oxalate while another sits at 24 mg. The lower one leaves more room in your day. See all dairy & eggs rated Safe for a full side-by-side.
Why does the safe threshold matter?
The 25 mg cutoff comes from clinical guidance for stone formers. Below it, a food's oxalate contribution is small enough not to move the needle for most patients. Harvard's 2024 lab data sits behind these figures — direct measurements, not estimates. Applied to Cheddar cheese: 0 mg oxalate per 1 oz — Safe per Harvard (2024).
Can I eat this food every day?
If it's in the Safe zone (under 25 mg/serving), yes — it can be a regular part of your diet. For Caution or Avoid foods, frequency matters. Rotate them with lower-oxalate options throughout the week. For Cheddar cheese, the measured oxalate value is 0 mg per 1 oz (Safe).
Where does the oxalate data come from?
Every oxalate figure is sourced from Harvard T.H. Chan SPH (2024), distributed via the OHF database. The values come from actual lab measurements of the foods — not from database averages or estimates. For context, Cheddar cheese measures 0 mg per 1 oz, rated Safe.
Should I also check sodium and calcium?
Yes — kidney stone risk isn't just about oxalate. High sodium increases urinary calcium (a stone promoter). Adequate dietary calcium (from food, not supplements) actually binds oxalate in your gut. Check the food's full nutrition page for the complete picture. For context, Cheddar cheese measures 0 mg per 1 oz, rated Safe.