Is Soda Safe for Kidney Stones? (Safe)
mg oxalate
per serving
Serving: 12 oz (355 g)
Verdict: 🟢 Safe
Per 100g: 0.3 mg
Data: Harvard T.H. Chan SPH (2024)
Here's the takeaway: Soda earns a Safe rating (🟢) at 1 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 Soda poses no special concern.
Putting Soda in context: it lands well below the category average of 40 mg. In the database, 89% of beverages (82 of 92) fall in the 🟢 Safe group (under 25 mg oxalate/serving). The typical beverages here averages 40 mg oxalate per serving, so Soda runs 98% 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 beverages 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. For context, Soda measures 1 mg per 12 oz, rated Safe.
Can I eat this food every day?
For Safe foods (under 25 mg/serving), daily use is generally fine. Caution and Avoid foods work better as occasional items — rotate them with safer options so no single high-oxalate food becomes a habit. Applied to Soda: 1 mg oxalate per 12 oz — Safe per Harvard (2024).
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. Soda comes in at 1 mg oxalate per 12 oz (Safe) in the measured database.
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. Applied to Soda: 1 mg oxalate per 12 oz — Safe per Harvard (2024).