Some kibble contains buckwheat and most does not. Buckwheat is an ingredient, not a verdict on dry food. A recent ingredient concern should prompt precise questions about the affected supply chain and batches—not a leap to the claim that kibble as a format is unsafe.
Our evidence-based view
Check the composition list for buckwheat or related wording. When it is used, it can contribute starch and other nutrients. Safety depends on ingredient specification, sourcing, storage, testing, traceability and manufacturing controls, just as it does for meat, cereals and other raw materials.
What is buckwheat?
Despite its name, buckwheat is not wheat. It is a seed from a flowering plant and is commonly described as a pseudocereal because it can be used in a similar way to cereal grains. It is naturally free from gluten, although that does not make every product containing it suitable for an individual dog with a suspected adverse food reaction.
Pet-food manufacturers may use the seed whole, ground or as flour. The exact declaration should be read from the composition list. Pictures, “grain-free” wording and front-of-pack recipe names are less reliable than the statutory ingredients panel.
Why might buckwheat be used in dog food?
Buckwheat can supply starch, energy, protein and fibre. In dry food, starch also helps create the physical structure of a piece during processing. It may appear in grain-free recipes because it is not botanically a cereal grain.
| Question | What the label can establish | What it cannot establish alone |
|---|---|---|
| Is buckwheat present? | The composition should name it when used. | Whether contamination or undeclared cross-contact has occurred. |
| How much is present? | A percentage may be given when the ingredient is emphasised. | The amount when no quantitative declaration is required or provided. |
| Is the food complete? | The statutory description should say complete or complementary. | Whether it suits every individual dog. |
| Is it grain-free? | Buckwheat can be used in a recipe marketed without cereal grains. | That the food is carbohydrate-free, safer or nutritionally superior. |
What happened with Years dog food and buckwheat?
In August 2026, Years voluntarily recalled its fresh meals after reports of sudden bilateral dry eye in some dogs. The company initially identified buckwheat as a potential factor and investigated possible contamination in part of its supply chain. It instructed customers to stop feeding the recalled meals while testing continued.
Years published its investigation findings in September 2026. It reported 21,757 individual test results across 1,129 substances, including testing buckwheat for 940 substances such as tropane alkaloids, mycotoxins, pesticides, heavy metals and fagopyrin. According to the company, the investigation found no contamination, toxin, manufacturing or packaging safety issue and identified no link between its food and the reported cases.
The company nevertheless removed buckwheat from recipes before resuming deliveries, describing this as a precaution and a response to customer preference. It also said that further research would be needed to explore whether individual sensitivity or another currently unknown biological pathway could be relevant.
The distinction matters
A suspected association during a precautionary recall is not the same as proven causation. The Years case did not establish that buckwheat causes dry eye, and the affected products were fresh meals rather than conventional kibble.
Is buckwheat safe for dogs?
Buckwheat seed has a history of use in food and animal feed, and its presence in a recipe is not by itself evidence of a safety problem. Burns Pet Nutrition, which uses buckwheat in some grain-free dry foods, stated during the Years investigation that it had no evidence that buckwheat seed in its recipes presented a safety concern when fed as intended and commissioned additional testing as a precaution.
That does not mean every ingredient supply is risk-free. Quality depends on sourcing, specification, storage, processing and testing. Contamination can affect many types of raw material, which is why batch traceability, supplier approval and finished-product controls matter alongside recipe formulation.
An individual dog can also react to a food that most dogs tolerate. Suspected allergy or intolerance cannot be diagnosed from an ingredients list alone. A vet may recommend a controlled elimination diet rather than repeatedly switching between foods marketed as sensitive or hypoallergenic.
How can you tell whether kibble contains buckwheat?
- Read the composition list on the current bag or manufacturer’s current product page.
- Look for “buckwheat”, “buckwheat flour”, “ground buckwheat” or “buckwheat seed”.
- Do not rely on the phrase grain-free; a grain-free food may contain buckwheat.
- Check the physical pack even if you have bought the food before, because recipes change.
- Keep the batch code and best-before date in case a safety notice is issued.
- Ask the manufacturer if the declaration is unclear or cross-contact matters for your dog.
At the time of this review, none of the published products in the All About Kibble catalogue had buckwheat recorded in the composition data available to us. This is a dated catalogue observation, not a guarantee that no UK kibble contains it. Our records can be incomplete, new products can launch and recipes can change.
Use our UK kibble directory to inspect declared product data, compare up to four foods in the food comparator, and read how to read a dry dog food label.
When should a dog with eye symptoms see a vet?
Eye problems can be painful and may deteriorate quickly. Contact a vet promptly if a dog develops persistent squinting or blinking, paws at the eyes, has redness, cloudiness, discomfort or thick discharge, or appears to have impaired vision. Do not wait for an ingredients investigation or attempt to diagnose the cause from diet alone.
If you suspect a food-related problem, retain the packaging, batch code, purchase details and an unopened sample if it is safe to do so. Follow any recall instructions from the manufacturer or official food-safety authorities, and report the feeding history accurately to the vet.
Frequently asked questions
Is buckwheat a type of wheat?
No. Buckwheat is a seed from a flowering plant and is not botanically wheat or a cereal grain. It is naturally gluten-free.
Can grain-free kibble contain buckwheat?
Yes. Buckwheat is not a cereal grain, so it can be used as a starch source in food described as grain-free. Check the composition rather than relying on the claim.
Did buckwheat cause the Years dog food eye cases?
No causal link was established. Years reported that extensive testing found no contamination, toxin or safety issue and no identified link between its food and the cases.
Should owners avoid every dog food containing buckwheat?
Current evidence does not support treating buckwheat’s presence alone as proof that a food is unsafe. Follow active recalls, read current labels and seek veterinary advice for an individual dog’s symptoms.
Is buckwheat common in UK kibble?
It appears in some recipes but is less common than starch sources such as rice, maize, wheat, potato or peas. Product formulations change, so check the current pack.
One ingredient incident does not indict kibble
All food systems can face contamination, adulteration or supplier failures. Controlled manufacturing gives responsible producers tools to specify materials, record batches, test inputs and finished products, investigate complaints and recall affected lots.
Our response is to demand clear evidence and good traceability, not to amplify fear around an unfamiliar ingredient. Owners should follow confirmed manufacturer or regulator advice for an affected product and avoid generalising beyond the evidence.
Evidence behind our view: FEDIAF nutritional guidance · WSAVA food-selection guidance
Sources and update status
This is a time-sensitive article. It distinguishes company statements and reported events from independently established causation.
- Years: investigation findings and customer information
- Burns Pet Nutrition: buckwheat customer statement
- UK feed marketing and labelling legislation
- GOV.UK: Pet food labelling guidance
Last reviewed: 8 October 2026. Catalogue check performed on the same date.