Years, a premium pet dog food brand, has stated that an independent investigation found no evidence connecting its recipes to severe eye issues in dogs. The investigation followed a voluntary recall of all Years Fresh Meals after reports from UK dog owners about cases of bilateral dry eye in their pets.
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Following these reports, Years took precautionary measures by recalling its products and launching an inquiry, considering contaminated buckwheat as a potential cause of the health concerns. The company revealed that the independent probe involved experts in food safety, microbiology, toxicology, veterinary clinical nutrition, and veterinary ophthalmology.
The investigation thoroughly examined 273 meals from all six Years recipes and tested 101 ingredient samples. A total of 21,757 individual tests were conducted across 1,129 different substances. The findings indicated no contamination, toxins, or food safety issues in their products. Additionally, the investigation uncovered no links between Years dog food and the reported eye problems, noting that cases of sudden bilateral dry eye were also observed in 96 dogs that had not consumed Years food, both in the UK and internationally.
As a result of these findings, Years announced plans to resume sales in October but will remove buckwheat from all recipes as a precautionary measure. The co-founders, Darren Beale and Ivan Barashki, emphasized their commitment to ensuring the safety of their products and promised to continue collaborating with independent organizations while they seek answers to the broader health issue affecting dogs.
An independent investigation by the British Association of Veterinary Ophthalmologists is still in progress.