USDA-derived rankings
Gluten-free foods high in vitamin C
Vitamin C builds collagen, boosts iron absorption and protects cells; peppers and berries beat oranges per bite.
Who this is for: Useful if you are pairing plant iron with meals, smoke, or just want your five a day to work harder.
Reviewed 20 July 2026. Ranked per typical serving against the fixed adult reference of 40 mg a day.
The clear number one
Red Pepper (Bell)
One serving (119g) gives you 152 mg of vitamin C, around 381% of the daily reference in one go.
See the full nutrition score for red pepper (bell)The ranking
Ranked by what a typical serving covers, because nobody eats 100g of everything. The badge shows per-100g density: high means at least 30% of the daily reference per 100g, source means at least 15%.
| # | Food | Per serving | Per 100g |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red Pepper (Bell) | 152 mg381% of daily reference | 128 mghigh |
| 2 | Orange Juice | 124 mg310% of daily reference | 50 mghigh |
| 3 | Broccoli (cooked) | 101 mg253% of daily reference | 65 mghigh |
| 4 | Green Pepper (Bell) | 96 mg239% of daily reference | 80 mghigh |
| 5 | Papaya | 96 mg239% of daily reference | 61 mghigh |
| 6 | Strawberries | 89 mg223% of daily reference | 59 mghigh |
| 7 | Pineapple | 79 mg197% of daily reference | 48 mghigh |
| 8 | Brussels Sprouts | 75 mg187% of daily reference | 85 mghigh |
| 9 | Orange | 70 mg174% of daily reference | 53 mghigh |
| 10 | Kiwi Fruit | 64 mg160% of daily reference | 93 mghigh |
| 11 | Mango | 60 mg150% of daily reference | 36 mghigh |
| 12 | Cantaloupe Melon | 59 mg147% of daily reference | 37 mghigh |
| 13 | Peas | 58 mg145% of daily reference | 40 mghigh |
| 14 | Cauliflower | 52 mg129% of daily reference | 48 mghigh |
| 15 | Lemon | 45 mg111% of daily reference | 53 mghigh |
| 16 | Red Cabbage | 40 mg100% of daily reference | 57 mghigh |
| 17 | Kale | 39 mg98% of daily reference | 93 mghigh |
| 18 | Grapefruit | 38 mg96% of daily reference | 31 mghigh |
| 19 | Courgette (Zucchini) | 35 mg88% of daily reference | 18 mghigh |
| 20 | Cabbage | 33 mg81% of daily reference | 37 mghigh |
Foods tagged with gluten are excluded. Oats are tagged for cross-contamination, so only certified gluten-free oats belong on a strict plan.
Narrow it to your way of eating
How this list is built
Every number comes from Nutrigate's USDA-derived generic food table, the same data behind the food nutrition scores. The daily reference for vitamin C is 40 mg, an evidence-based adult amount; the app personalises it to you. Serving sizes are typical household portions, shown in grams so you can judge them.