Product recall
Voluntary recall of all Years fresh meals
Last updated 20 August 2026
We have voluntarily recalled all Years Fresh Meals (excluding Chef's Collection) as a precautionary measure while we investigate reports of sudden bilateral dry eye in dogs.
Years exists for one reason: to give people more time with their dogs, and the reports we have received are deeply upsetting to everyone here. Given the nature of the reports we have received, we believe the responsible course of action is to recall our fresh meals while a thorough investigation continues.
Even though the investigation is still ongoing and no causal link has so far been established between bilateral dry eye in dogs and our food, we are not prepared to take chances with the dogs people trust us to feed.
What our investigation is looking at
We are working with independent veterinary experts, specialist veterinary ophthalmologists, our suppliers and relevant authorities to understand whether there is a common factor behind the reported cases.
Our investigation is currently focused on potential contamination within a portion of buckwheat supply, rather than buckwheat itself.
Buckwheat is a common, approved ingredient used across the pet food industry. Before being introduced into our recipes, it went through our standard ingredient and recipe approval process, including supplier approval, ingredient specification review and formulation in line with FEDIAF guidelines.
Independent laboratory testing is ongoing as part of a wider investigation to understand exactly what has happened.
Why we recalled all fresh meals
The voluntary recall is a precautionary measure and our investigation is focused on potential contamination within a portion of buckwheat supply, rather than buckwheat itself, although a definitive cause has not yet been established.
We know to some, this may seem overly cautious - but at Years, we will always put every dog's health and wellbeing first.
As of 9pm on 18th August, 192 customers in total have reported potential, as yet unverified, eye issues. As our investigation is ongoing and individual reports are being assessed, we will publish verified findings at the conclusion of our investigation.
What you should do
- Stop feeding Years fresh meals immediately, whether your dog is experiencing symptoms or not
- Dispose of any unused meals
- Do not feed the meals to any other dog or animal
- Do not donate or sell the meals
What symptoms to look out for
Excessive blinking or squinting; continuous pawing at the eyes; thick discharge; general discomfort around the eyes. If you see any of these signs, contact your vet immediately.
Your subscription
Your subscription has automatically been paused for an initial period of six weeks. This gives us time to prepare fresh meals for your dog using quinoa in place of buckwheat along with a thank-you gift, for your patience, in your next subscription box.
Contact details
We've tried to answer as many questions as we can here, and below in the FAQs.
For questions on your account or returning the meals please contact us here.
If your dog as a sudden bilateral dry eye diagnosis please use the dedicated support team here.
About your dog
Dry eye happens when a dog's eyes stop producing enough tears, which can lead to irritation, redness and discomfort if untreated. 'Bilateral' means it affects both eyes, typically with zero tear production, and 'sudden' means it comes on quickly rather than developing gradually.
No. We are advising all customers, as a precautionary measure, to stop feeding Years meals which contain buckwheat.
Stop feeding Years meals. Please contact your vet as soon as possible - early treatment makes a real difference. It would also help the investigation if you could let us know too. With your permission, Years would also welcome the opportunity to speak directly with your vet or veterinary ophthalmologist.
Seeing your dog in discomfort, especially with something sudden and unexplained, is genuinely distressing, and we want to help however we can.
- After you have stopped feeding Years - please follow your vet's advice first and foremost - including whether to pause feeding Years while things are assessed. They know your dog's situation best.
- Let us know directly. We'll send you a short data request sheet to capture the details of your dog's case - this genuinely helps us build a clearer picture, and every case matters to the investigation.
- Hold on to any unopened or part-used product you have. We'll arrange a free collection, so we can include them as part of our investigation.
Thank you for reporting this to us and thank you for your patience while we investigated. We are under no illusion that this would have had a massive impact on you and your dog's life, and we welcome discussing with you further on how we can help.
We will be reaching out to everyone impacted, but if you want to speed up the process or have not heard from us in 72 hours, please email: care@years.com
We want to personally acknowledge and thank the customers who set up Facebook groups, who pushed, and who demanded answers. Your advocacy made a real difference. Giving us the ability to properly challenge our advisors, and to look again at what could really be causing dry eye in dogs.
Alongside customer advocates, several ophthalmologists that actively engaged with us, thank you, some of the data points you shared have really assisted the investigation.
Years
The investigation will continue to be led by our dedicated food safety and technical team, and two independent experts to ensure a structured investigation. This includes a root cause analysis specialist focused on our product and manufacturing processes, and a toxicologist focused on identifying any interactions at a biological level.
Supporting is an RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Clinical Nutrition. We will communicate the findings in due course, and continue to consult with the ophthalmologist community.
Yes. Following our ongoing investigation, we've made the decision to reformulate our recipes – immediately removing buckwheat and returning to super seed, quinoa.
To give our team the time needed to complete this work properly, we're pausing all subscriptions for an initial period of 6 weeks. This allows us to finalise the reformulation and return our recipes to the formulation our customers knew before the change.
Your subscription has been automatically paused for 6 weeks. You can pause or cancel your subscription any time by logging into your account here.
Returning meals
We recommend a minimally processed wholefood diet wherever possible.
Your help with our investigation would mean a great deal. We'll arrange a free collection of any unused meals and apply a full credit to your account for the order.
Please be aware that we don't need to collect any more unused meals. We now have enough recovered meals to support our ongoing investigations, so please dispose of any unused trays.
Product / batch specifics
All Years recipes contain a small amount of buckwheat (between 6.3% and 7.2% depending on the recipe). Puppy, adult and senior meals
- In late July, we began receiving multiple reports of dogs experiencing sudden, bilateral dry eye.
- On 1st August, an independent vet and RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Clinical Nutrition advised that a link to Years foods was unlikely based on available data, but recommended we investigate. We launched an evidence based investigation, including:
- UKAS-accredited independent lab testing of Years meals and Breed Health+ supplements for heavy metals, mycotoxins, alkaloids, pesticides and veterinary drug residues
- Direct engagement with ophthalmologists across the UK to understand the clinical picture and case data
- A customer questionnaire to identify patterns in diet, environment and other factors
- Two independent experts appointed to lead formal root cause and toxicology investigations
- As of 16th August, we've received 57 suspected cases out of roughly 40,000 customers year to date (0.1%), with most reported after 12th August. Given rising case numbers, input from customer advocates and ophthalmologists, and growing evidence around buckwheat.
- On 17th August to proactively and voluntarily issue a full recall. Rising case numbers - combined with input from customer advocates, further feedback from ophthalmologists, and growing evidence around buckwheat - led us to make the decision to proactively and voluntarily issue this full recall.
Just the meals – the Breed Health+ supplements do not contain any buckwheat
No other products are affected, just the meals
There is no evidence to date which suggests this would be the case.
No, no other symptoms, other than those listed above.
If your dog isn't showing any of the symptoms above, there's no need to get them checked by a vet as a precaution. That said, if you're ever concerned about your dog's health, please do speak to a qualified vet.
Yes the FSA have been advised, along with Trading Standards, prior to us issuing this recall.
Yes we will.
Yes, but we will be in touch before your subscription is due to restart - and as ever, you are always in control of your subscription, and you can amend your delivery date quickly via your dashboard.
Please be aware that we don't need to collect any more unused meals. We now have enough recovered meals to support our ongoing investigations, so please dispose of any unused trays.
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