Is Monterey Jack 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)
In practical terms, Monterey Jack cheese is a low-risk food for kidney stone patients. Its 0 mg oxalate per serving stays under the 25 mg line, so it can appear in your regular rotation without extra calculation. As always, staying hydrated and getting dietary calcium supports stone prevention.
Among dairy & eggs, Monterey Jack cheese sits well below the category average of 3 mg. For context, 87 out of 91 dairy & eggs (95%) are rated 🟢 Safe (under 25 mg oxalate/serving). The average dairy & eggs in our database has 3 mg oxalate per serving — which means Monterey Jack cheese is 100% below the category norm. Within its specific category, Monterey Jack cheese ranks among the lower-oxalate options. This context matters because two 'Safe' foods can have very different oxalate levels — one might have 5 mg while another has 24 mg. Both are Safe, but the first gives you more dietary flexibility. Browse all dairy & eggs rated Safe to compare within the same verdict level.
Why does the safe threshold matter?
The 25 mg per serving threshold is based on clinical guidance for kidney stone patients. Harvard's lab data (2024) provides the most reliable oxalate measurements available — no database estimates, direct lab analysis. Applied to Monterey Jack 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 Monterey Jack cheese, the measured oxalate value is 0 mg per 1 oz (Safe).
Where does the oxalate data come from?
The numbers come from Harvard T.H. Chan SPH's 2024 laboratory measurements, published through the OHF database. Direct lab analysis, which is why they're treated as the reference values for food oxalate. Monterey Jack cheese comes in at 0 mg oxalate per 1 oz (Safe) in the measured database.
Should I also check sodium and calcium?
Definitely. Oxalate is only part of the story — high sodium raises calcium in urine, and dietary calcium (from food, not pills) binds oxalate in the gut. The food's main page lists both, so it's worth checking before you plan around it. Applied to Monterey Jack cheese: 0 mg oxalate per 1 oz — Safe per Harvard (2024).