Is Pears Safe for Kidney Stones? (Safe)
mg oxalate
per serving
Serving: 1/2 cup (84 g)
Verdict: 🟢 Safe
Per 100g: 5 mg
Data: Harvard T.H. Chan SPH (2024)
Here's the takeaway: Pears earns a Safe rating (🟢) at 4 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 Pears poses no special concern.
Putting Pears in context: it lands well below the category average of 21 mg. In the database, 89% of fruits (101 of 113) fall in the 🟢 Safe group (under 25 mg oxalate/serving). The typical fruits here averages 21 mg oxalate per serving, so Pears runs 82% 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 fruits rated Safe for a full side-by-side.
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 Pears: 4 mg oxalate per 1/2 cup — Safe per Harvard (2024).
Can I eat this food every day?
Daily eating is fine for Safe foods (under 25 mg/serving). For Caution or Avoid foods, spread them out and alternate with low-oxalate picks. The idea is keeping your weekly oxalate load manageable, not eliminating any single food. For context, Pears measures 4 mg per 1/2 cup, rated 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. Applied to Pears: 4 mg oxalate per 1/2 cup — Safe per Harvard (2024).
Should I also check sodium and calcium?
Yes — oxalate alone doesn't decide stone risk. Sodium pushes more calcium into urine, and calcium from food (not supplements) helps bind oxalate during digestion. The main food page covers sodium and calcium alongside oxalate. For context, Pears measures 4 mg per 1/2 cup, rated Safe.