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Years recall: independent formulation resources

Two practical guides for UK dog owners

Cooked alternatives to Years, plus a separate buckwheat guide for owners who would prefer to avoid buckwheat while the investigation continues.

Independent recipe check

YEARS RECALL: What can I feed instead?

UK fresh-cooked foods compared by a commercial pet food formulator.

Following the voluntary Years recall, many owners are looking for cooked alternatives.

Years has advised customers to STOP FEEDING its fresh meals immediately.

I’ve looked at the published formulations of some of the main UK options. Recipes can vary within a brand.

Download the printable cooked-food guide

Quick guide

LOW
MODERATE
HIGH
NOT STATED

These ratings reflect my professional formulation criteria and opinion, based on the published recipes and information available.

Closest to my whole-food approach

Phoenix Bark

phoenixbark.com

ADDED NUTRIENTS: D3 + E only

SOURCE/FORM: Whole-food-derived

STARCH/PULSES: Moderate

A clear stand-out. Much more of the nutritional work is being done by the food itself rather than a broad vitamin/mineral pack.

Well done, Phoenix Bark.

Frozen fresh-cooked

BarkinBistro

barkinbistro.co.uk/category/cooked-dog-food/

ADDED NUTRIENTS: E, zinc, manganese, copper + iodine

SOURCE/FORM: Mainly inorganic mineral salts

STARCH/PULSES: Moderate

Different Dog

differentdog.com

ADDED NUTRIENTS: A, D3, E, zinc, iron, manganese + iodine

SOURCE/FORM: Not clearly stated

STARCH/PULSES: Moderate

Pets Love Fresh

petslovefresh.com

ADDED NUTRIENTS: Vitamin/mineral blend

SOURCE/FORM: Mixed chelated + inorganic minerals

STARCH/PULSES: Low

Butternut Box

butternutbox.com

ADDED NUTRIENTS: High | broad vitamin/mineral supplementation, varying by recipe

SOURCE/FORM: Many minerals are chelated; some recipes also use organic selenium

STARCH/PULSES: Moderate | some recipes contain around 16% combined sweet potato, peas + red lentils

Nutriment Fresh Medallions

nutriment.co.uk/collections/fresh-cooked

ADDED NUTRIENTS: A, D3, E, iron, iodine, copper, manganese, zinc + selenium

SOURCE/FORM: Not clearly stated

STARCH/PULSES: Low

Paws on Plates

pawsonplates.com

ADDED NUTRIENTS: A, E, zinc, iron, manganese, copper, iodine + calcium carbonate

SOURCE/FORM: Mainly inorganic mineral salts

STARCH/PULSES: Moderate

Monty’s Larder

montyslarder.co.uk

ADDED NUTRIENTS: Vitamins + multiple minerals

SOURCE/FORM: Not clearly stated

STARCH/PULSES: Moderate

DIBO Fresh Menu

dibodog.com/collections/fresh

ADDED NUTRIENTS: A, D3, E, iron, iodine, copper, manganese, zinc + selenium

SOURCE/FORM: Not clearly stated

STARCH: Moderate

Boost Fresh

boostpet.co.uk

ADDED NUTRIENTS: D3, E, zinc, manganese, copper + iodine

SOURCE/FORM: Mainly inorganic mineral salts

STARCH/PULSES: Moderate

Chilled / refrigerated

Freshpet UK

freshpet.com/en-gb

ADDED NUTRIENTS: Broad vitamin/mineral additions

SOURCE/FORM: Varies/not clearly stated

STARCH/PULSES: Moderate

Shelf-stable cooked

Fidelis

fidelisdog.co.uk/collections/fresh

ADDED NUTRIENTS: D, zinc, copper, manganese + selenium

SOURCE/FORM: No artificial vitamins stated; mineral forms not fully stated

STARCH/PULSES: Moderate

One recipe contains buckwheat: Pork with Buckwheat, Pumpkin & Blueberries.

Nutriment Gently Steamed

nutriment.co.uk/collections/gently-steamed-dogs

ADDED NUTRIENTS: A, D3, E, zinc, iron, copper, manganese, iodine + selenium

SOURCE/FORM: Not clearly stated

STARCH/PULSES: Low

Marleybones Pantry Fresh

marleybones.com

ADDED NUTRIENTS: A, D3, iron, copper, manganese + zinc

SOURCE/FORM: Mainly inorganic mineral salts

STARCH/PULSES: Moderate

Natures Menu

naturesmenu.co.uk

ADDED NUTRIENTS: D3, E + multiple minerals

SOURCE/FORM: Mainly inorganic mineral salts

STARCH/PULSES: Moderate

Wilsons Fresh

wilsonspetfood.co.uk/collections/fresh-dog-food

ADDED NUTRIENTS: Broad vitamin/mineral additions

SOURCE/FORM: Not clearly stated

STARCH/PULSES: Generally higher

Also uses eggshell as a calcium source.

Traditional complete wet

Forthglade

forthglade.com/collections/wet-dog-food

ADDED NUTRIENTS: A, D3, E, zinc, iron, copper + iodine

SOURCE/FORM: Key minerals are chelated

STARCH/PULSES: Moderate

Naturediet

naturediet.co.uk

ADDED NUTRIENTS: A, D3 + multiple minerals

SOURCE/FORM: Mainly inorganic mineral salts

STARCH: Varies by recipe

Calcium

I’m not a fan of calcium carbonate or eggshell as the primary calcium source. In adult dogs, bioavailability concerns me; in puppies, the calcium:phosphorus balance is critical.

My benchmark

My benchmark is simple: minimal added nutrients, low starch and full transparency, including a full predicted nutritional analysis. I haven’t found a UK cooked food that ticks every box yet.

I have successfully formulated complete cooked pet foods commercially and internationally without added vitamins, so I know it can be done.

For context, I’m a recipe developer and commercial pet food formulator, not a pet nutritionist. They are different roles.

Emma Rutherford
Recipe Development | Pet Food Formulator | Nutritional Science | Food Science | Forbes Vetted
thenaturalcaninekitchen.com
Buckwheat guide

Avoiding buckwheat after the Years recall?

I checked 17 fresh and cooked foods, so you don’t have to.

Following on from my previous post about the Years recall and buckwheat, I’ve put together a second list of fresh, gently cooked and shelf-stable foods for anyone who would prefer to avoid buckwheat altogether.

See my previous list for my review of the first group of foods.

For anyone who doesn’t know me, I’m Emma Rutherford, a pet food formulator and recipe developer with over 20 years’ experience in fresh food. I spend a lot of time looking forensically at formulations, ingredients and how foods are put together, so I wanted this list to be as clear and useful as possible.

I’ve separated foods where the brand has specifically confirmed they do not contain buckwheat from those where I’ve checked the current published recipes and ingredient lists.

One important exception: Fidelis has a Pork with Buckwheat, Pumpkin & Blueberries recipe, so check the individual recipe.

Nothing has been confirmed to date about the cause of the issues associated with the Years recall, and this article is not suggesting that buckwheat has been proven to be responsible. It simply gives owners who would prefer to avoid it for now an easy place to start.

Checked 19 August 2026. Recipes can change, so always check the current ingredient declaration.
Download the printable buckwheat guide

How I checked the list

I separated foods where the manufacturer had specifically confirmed there was no buckwheat from foods where I checked the current published recipe and ingredient declarations myself.

That distinction matters. A manufacturer confirmation is not the same thing as simply finding no buckwheat listed on a current webpage, and recipes can change.

Important context

This is an avoidance guide, not a safety rating and not a claim that buckwheat has been established as the cause of the Years dry-eye cases.

Emma Rutherford
Pet Food Formulator & Recipe Developer
The Natural Canine Kitchen