🟢 Safe
Oxalate <25 mg/serving
🟡 Caution
Oxalate 25-99 mg/serving
🔴 Avoid
Oxalate ≥100 mg/serving
🟢

Cream cheese

🟢 Safe — Low Oxalate
0 mg oxalate / serving
Serving: 2 Tbsp (30 g) | Per 100 g: 1 mg
✓ Medically Reviewed Content reviewed by OxalateWatch Editorial Team. Based on Harvard T.H. Chan SPH oxalate data (2024) and NKF/AUA dietary guidelines.

Cream cheese is zero oxalate, spreadable, and versatile. On a bagel, in cheesecake, as a dip base, or stuffed into jalapeños — it adds calcium without adding oxalate. The fat content varies by variety (regular, whipped, reduced-fat), but from a kidney stone perspective, all are safe. Cream cheese on a rice cake is a kidney-stone-friendly snack that pairs a calcium source with a near-zero-oxalate base.

📊 Nutrition at a Glance

0 mg
Oxalate / serving
Low Oxalate
1175 mg
Sodium / 100g
High Na
35.8 g
Protein / 100g
Tier 1
1184 mg
Calcium / 100g
Tier 1

🚨 High Sodium Alert

Cream cheese contains 1175 mg sodium per 100g — well above the recommended limit for kidney stone patients. High sodium intake can increase calcium in urine, raising stone risk.

📏 Oxalate by Serving Size

ServingWeightOxalateVerdict
2 Tbsp30 g0 mg Safe
2 x 2 Tbsp60 g0 mg Safe
½ x 2 Tbsp15 g0 mg Safe

🏷️ Tags

Dairy & Eggs 🟢 Oxalate Safe Low Oxalate Calcium-Rich High Sodium

🟢 See all Dairy & Eggs rated Safe for kidney stones →

🔗 Related Foods

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cream cheese safe for kidney stones?

Short answer: yes. Longer answer: at 0 mg per 2 Tbsp, Cream cheese is one of the safer things you can eat if you're watching oxalate. Harvard T.H. Chan SPH measured this directly.

What's the oxalate content of Cream cheese?

One 2 Tbsp of Cream cheese = 0 mg oxalate. Scale it up to 100g and you're at 1 mg. Direct measurement from Harvard, 2024. About as reliable as food data gets.

Is Cream cheese a high-oxalate food?

It's low. 0 mg per 2 Tbsp is well under the 25 mg danger line. Cream cheese is not the food you need to worry about.

What can I eat instead of Cream cheese?

There are almost always safer swaps in the same food family. For Cream cheese, check the related foods section below — the green-marked ones are your best bets. All verified by Harvard (2024).

Is Cream cheese high in sodium?

Don't just look at oxalate. Cream cheese has 1175 mg sodium/100g on top of whatever oxalate it carries. Double-tap on your kidneys. Minimize salt elsewhere if you eat this.

🔍 Explore More About This Food

📚 Data Sources

Oxalate: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (2024) via OHF. Nutrition: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy 2018 & Foundation Foods).

📖 Key Scientific References

Taylor EN, Curhan GC. Oxalate intake and the risk for nephrolithiasis. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2007;18(7):2198-2204. PMID: 17538185
Borghi L, Schianchi T, Meschi T, et al. Comparison of two diets for the prevention of recurrent stones in idiopathic hypercalciuria. N Engl J Med. 2002;346(2):77-84. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa010369
Fink HA, Akornor JW, Garimella PS, et al. Diet, fluid, or supplements for secondary prevention of nephrolithiasis. Eur Urol. 2009;56(1):72-80. DOI: 10.1016/j.eururo.2009.03.031
Ferraro PM, Taylor EN, Gambaro G, Curhan GC. Dietary and lifestyle factors for primary prevention of nephrolithiasis. BMC Nephrol. 2020;21(1):267. PMID: 32652950
Pearle MS, Goldfarb DS, Assimos DG, et al. Medical management of kidney stones: AUA guideline. J Urol. 2014;192(2):316-324. DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2014.05.006
Liebman M, Costa G. Effects of calcium and magnesium on urinary oxalate excretion after oxalate loads. J Urol. 2000;163(5):1565-1569. PMID: 10751889
Holmes RP, Assimos DG. The impact of dietary oxalate on kidney stone formation. Urol Res. 2004;32(5):311-316. DOI: 10.1007/s00240-004-0437-3
Lin BB, Lin ME, Huang RH, et al. Dietary treatment and fluid intake for prevention of recurrent calcium stones. PLoS One. 2021;16(4):e0250257. PMID: 33872340
This is dietary reference information, NOT medical advice. Talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before changing your diet. Oxalate tolerance varies by person, stone type, and medication.