UK Fresh Dog Food Brand Years Recalls All Meals After 192 Reports of Sudden Dry Eye in Dogs

Executive Summary: Years, a London-based subscription fresh dog food company serving approximately 40,000 UK customers, issued a voluntary recall on August 17–18, 2026, for all its Signature Meals after receiving 192 reports of potential eye issues in dogs. The company is investigating buckwheat — added to recipes earlier this year — as a potential contributing factor, including possible supply-chain contamination. Affected dogs have shown sudden bilateral dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca), which can lead to corneal damage and vision loss if untreated.

Key Facts

Company: Years (UK fresh dog food subscription service)
Product: Years Signature Meals (fresh meals); Chef’s Collection excluded
Recall date: August 17–18, 2026
Cases: 192 potential eye-issue reports as of Aug 18; 57 suspected cases as of Aug 16
Condition: Sudden bilateral dry eye / keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS)
Suspected link: Buckwheat ingredient added in early 2026; potential supply-chain contamination under investigation
Customer base: ~40,000 subscribers

What Happened

Years, a premium UK fresh dog food brand, told customers on August 17, 2026, to stop feeding its Signature Meals immediately after a rising number of dogs developed sudden bilateral dry eye. By the morning of August 18, the company had received 192 reports of potential eye issues, up from 57 suspected cases two days earlier.

The condition, known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca or KCS, occurs when a dog’s tear glands stop producing adequate tears. Symptoms include excessive blinking, squinting, thick discharge, redness and pawing at the eyes. Veterinary ophthalmologists warn that without prompt treatment, KCS can progress to corneal ulceration, scarring and permanent vision impairment.

Background

Years delivers personalised fresh meals on a subscription model and is also stocked in retailers such as Pets at Home. In early 2026 the company changed its recipes to include buckwheat. A now-removed blog post had stated that buckwheat was safe for dogs when cooked properly and fed in sensible portions.

Reports of eye problems began in late July. Years launched an internal investigation on August 1 and, as a precaution, issued a voluntary recall before any causal link was proven. The company has appointed independent experts to lead toxicology and root-cause investigations.

Industry Context

The recall lands in the middle of a long-running debate about fresh dog food vs kibble. Fresh and raw diets have grown rapidly as owners seek minimally processed, human-grade ingredients and subscription convenience. However, fresh formats depend on tight cold-chain control, short shelf life and rigorous supplier verification — any weak point can become a safety issue.

UK Pet Food, the industry body, has publicly cautioned that Years’ investigation is focused on potential contamination within a portion of its buckwheat supply, not buckwheat as an ingredient generally. That distinction matters for both regulators and competing brands.

Market & Business Impact

Brand trust. Years occupies the premium fresh segment where consumers pay a meaningful uplift over kibble. A safety signal affecting ~0.5% of customers is enough to reshape purchase intent across the category.
Retailer response. Pets at Home staff told STV News that all Years meals were removed from stores, demonstrating how quickly retailers act on recall signals.
Regulatory attention. The case is likely to intensify scrutiny of novel ingredients, adverse-event reporting and supply-chain documentation in fresh pet food.
Competitive dynamics. Rival fresh brands and premium kibble marketers will emphasize their own ingredient sourcing and safety testing to win displaced customers.

Companies & Brands Involved

Years — London-based fresh dog food subscription company, ~40,000 customers. Recalled all Signature Meals, paused subscriptions for six weeks, and is reformulating with quinoa in place of buckwheat.

Pets at Home — UK pet superstore chain stocking Years products; removed recalled meals from stores.

UK Pet Food — Industry trade body; cautioned against generalizing the issue to buckwheat as an ingredient.

Data & Evidence

Years subscriber base: ~40,000 customers.
Potential eye-issue reports: 192 as of early Aug 18, 2026; 57 suspected cases as of Aug 16, 2026.
Ingredient added to recipes: buckwheat, introduced early 2026.
Subscription pause: six weeks.
Reformulation: quinoa replacing buckwheat.

What This Means

The Years recall is a reminder that premium positioning does not insulate a pet food brand from ingredient-supply risk. In the fresh dog food vs kibble discussion, convenience and perceived quality are important, but safety and traceability are decisive. Brands that can demonstrate batch-level testing, transparent sourcing and rapid response protocols will be better placed to retain consumer trust.

Key Takeaways

Years recalled all Signature Meals after 192 reports of potential dry eye in dogs.
Buckwheat, added to recipes in early 2026, is being investigated as a potential contributing factor.
The condition is sudden bilateral dry eye (KCS), which can cause serious corneal damage if untreated.
Subscriptions are paused for six weeks and recipes are being reformulated with quinoa.
The case highlights supply-chain verification risk in the fast-growing fresh dog food category.

FAQ

Which Years products are recalled?

All Years Signature Meals (fresh meals). The Chef’s Collection line is excluded from the recall.

What symptoms should dog owners watch for?

Watch for excessive blinking or squinting, thick discharge, redness, cloudiness, pawing at the eyes and general discomfort around the eyes. Contact a vet promptly if any appear.

Is buckwheat toxic to all dogs?

Not necessarily. Years is investigating potential contamination within a portion of its buckwheat supply, not buckwheat as an ingredient generally. UK Pet Food has cautioned against broad conclusions.

How does fresh dog food compare to kibble on safety?

Fresh dog food offers less processing and often higher perceived ingredient quality, but it also depends on strict cold-chain, shelf-life and supplier controls. Kibble has longer shelf stability and established safety protocols. Both formats can be safe when manufactured under rigorous standards.

Sources

Years customer recall notice / website statement, Aug 17–18, 2026 — primary company source.
International Business Times UK, “‘There’s Not Conclusive Evidence’: Years Responds as 192 Dog Eye Cases Reported Amid Food Recall”, Aug 2026.
STV News, “Dog food recalled after reports of eye issues in pets”, Aug 2026.
Metro, “Urgent recall of dog food after pets suffer eye issues”, Aug 19, 2026.
Mirror, “Premium dog food brand issues recall after pets develop ‘extremely painful’ condition”, Aug 2026.
The Pets Larder, “Years Dog Food Recall: What Affected Owners Should Do”, last checked Aug 23, 2026.
The Kennel Club / PDSA, clinical guidance on keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS).

Related News & GPI Data

Compare fresh and dry formats in our GPI News archive, browse dog food brands in the GPI directory, and read our pet food manufacturer coverage for more on supply-chain quality assurance.