Dog food recalled after reports of pets losing their sight
A dog food brand, Years, has recalled all of its fresh meals after reports that a recipe change may have caused some animals to develop an eye condition that, if left untreated, can lead to sight loss.
Intelligence analysis by Llama
Years, a dog food brand, has recalled its fresh meals due to reports of pets developing an eye condition that can lead to sight loss. The company has identified buckwheat as a potential contributing factor and is conducting further investigations.
A dog food brand called Years has recalled its fresh meals because some dogs have gotten sick and lost their sight. The company thinks that a new ingredient called buckwheat might be the problem. They're investigating further to make sure it's safe for dogs to eat.
Analysis
Buckwheat and Eye Health Issues in Dogs
Years, a dog food brand, has recalled all of its fresh meals after reports that a recipe change may have caused some animals to develop an eye condition that, if left untreated, can lead to sight loss. The company has identified buckwheat as a potential contributing factor and is conducting further investigations.
The recall follows reports from some owners of pets not responding to treatment and in some cases losing their sight. Years told the Guardian that as of the early hours of Wednesday, it had had 192 customers report 'potential, yet unverified, eye issues' out of roughly 40,000 customers. The company previously said that as of Sunday it had 'received 57 suspected cases' of the condition, known as sudden bilateral dry eye.
Dry eye in dogs occurs when a dog is unable to produce tears, making their eyes very sore. Bilateral means it affects both eyes. The Royal Kennel Club says on its website that affected dogs may rub at their eyes, squint or be sensitive to light: 'Their eyes may be inflamed and reddened, or the cornea may appear dry and dull. There is commonly a thick, mucusy discharge in or around the eye.'
A Facebook group called Years Dry Eye Cases and info that was set up on Friday had, by Wednesday morning, passed 2,100 members. Another group has been set up to discuss potential 'legal avenues for those that have been affected by dry eye with a potential link to the years.com recall'.
Years said on its website that the recall followed reports of some dogs having a potential adverse eye reaction to buckwheat, an ingredient included in its meals. Buckwheat was added to the company's meals several months ago, and a now-deleted blogpost on its website dating from February this year explored the question of whether it was safe for dogs to eat it.
One dog owner who received the recall notice told the Guardian that their pet, a three-year-old shiba inu, had so far shown no symptoms, 'but after eight months on this new food, I'm genuinely worried about whether eye problems are coming'. The owner, who is 23 and based in London, said they had been a Years customer for two years. They said that on the Facebook group 'new cases are being posted hourly'.
On its website, Years said that 'as a precaution' it was issuing a voluntary recall of all Years fresh meals, adding: 'This follows a small number of reports of dogs having a potential adverse eye reaction to buckwheat, a common and approved ingredient.' All customers were switched to the new recipe containing buckwheat. Years said that in late July it began receiving multiple reports of dogs experiencing sudden, bilateral dry eye. It added that on 1 August an independent vet and Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons specialist advised that a link to Years foods was 'unlikely' based on available data, but recommended that it investigate further.
It took the decision on Monday to voluntarily issue a full recall. 'The investigation has identified buckwheat as a potential contributing factor, and that includes investigating potential contamination within the buckwheat supply,' a spokesperson said. 'Further independent laboratory testing is ongoing.'
Years has chosen to issue a voluntary recall as a precautionary measure, rather than any causation having been proven… There's not conclusive evidence or [an] established link to Years, but we have looked into diverse factors and taken the voluntary recall based on multiple potential factors.'
Key points
- Years has recalled all of its fresh meals due to reports of pets developing an eye condition that can lead to sight loss.
- The company has identified buckwheat as a potential contributing factor and is conducting further investigations.
- Years has chosen to issue a voluntary recall as a precautionary measure, rather than any causation having been proven.
- The investigation has identified buckwheat as a potential contributing factor, and that includes investigating potential contamination within the buckwheat supply.
- Further independent laboratory testing is ongoing.
If the investigation finds that buckwheat is not the cause of the eye problems, Years may be able to resume selling its fresh meals without any issues. This would be a positive outcome for the company and its customers.
If the investigation finds that buckwheat is indeed the cause of the eye problems, Years may have to permanently remove it from its recipes. This could be a negative outcome for the company and its customers, as buckwheat is a common and approved ingredient.
