An independent investigation launched following the voluntary recall of Years fresh dog food has found no evidence of contamination, toxins or safety issues with the company’s products, and identified no link between the food and reported cases of sudden bilateral dry eye in dogs.
Years voluntarily recalled its fresh meals on 17 August 2026 following an increase in reports of the condition among dogs eating its food.
The subsequent investigation involved independent experts in food safety, microbiology, toxicology, veterinary clinical nutrition and veterinary ophthalmology, alongside specialists from the Universities of Cambridge and Nottingham.
More than 21,700 individual test results covering 1,129 different substances were carried out across ingredients, retained production meals and meals returned by customers. Testing found no evidence of contamination, toxins, food safety problems, packaging migration or manufacturing issues.
Buckwheat, which had been highlighted as an ingredient of interest following the recall, was tested for 940 different substances, including tropane alkaloids, mycotoxins, pesticides, heavy metals and fagopyrin. No toxin, safety or contamination issues were identified.
Wider investigation continues
Data collected by the British Association of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (BrAVO) has identified 155 cases of sudden bilateral dry eye in dogs fed Years food. However, 41 UK cases have also been reported in dogs that have never eaten Years, alongside a further 55 cases in international markets where the food is not sold or consumed.
The cause of the apparent increase in cases therefore remains unclear, with further investigation needed.
Years says it will continue to share its findings with BrAVO, the Food Standards Agency and Trading Standards, and will fund an independent study led by veterinary ophthalmologist David Williams at the Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital, Cambridge, to investigate whether an underlying cause can be identified.
Years plans to resume supplying customers in October. Although its investigation found no safety issue with its food, the company says its recipes will be reformulated without buckwheat as a precaution and in response to customer preference.
