Tesco and Waitrose Issue Urgent Safety Recall Warnings London 2026

Key Points

• Pet Food Recall: Subscription brand Years has issued a voluntary recall for all fresh dog food meals (except the Chef’s Collection) after receiving nearly 200 reports of severe eye reactions in pets, including potential vision loss.
• Suspected Cause: The condition, known as sudden bilateral keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) or dry eye, emerged after buckwheat was added to the recipe formulations earlier this year.
• Medical Safety Alert: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued an urgent Device Safety Information warning advising parents to immediately stop using infant rectal catheters.
• Supermarket Impact: Product safety alerts and ‘do not use’ warnings affect items stocked across major UK supermarkets and online retailers, including Tesco and Waitrose.
• Supermarket Recalls: In addition to pet and infant medical items, ongoing food recall warnings from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) remain active for red clover seeds due to E. coli contamination and mislabelled confectionery items containing undeclared allergens.

London, UK (West London News) August 22, 2026 – Major UK retailers, including Tesco and Waitrose, alongside regulatory bodies and pet food providers, have issued a series of urgent product recalls and critical consumer safety warnings. While standard grocery items have not dominated national safety alerts this week, high-profile warnings have been triggered over subscription pet food linked to sudden canine vision loss and an unproven medical device marketed for infant colic. Regulatory authorities, including the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Food Standards Agency (FSA), are urging consumers to inspect their homes, immediately discontinue the use of affected items, and return compromised goods for full refunds.

Why has Years fresh dog food been urgently recalled?

As reported by Katie Collier of The Herald, fresh pet food subscription company Years issued a national recall and paused all customer subscriptions following widespread reports of sudden, severe eye problems in dogs. The health alert involves a medical condition known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), commonly referred to as dry eye, which causes an abrupt cessation of tear production.

Left untreated, KCS causes severe pain, corneal ulcers, and scarring, leaving several affected dogs barely able to see or suffering from permanent vision loss.

As detailed by reporting in dvm360, the subscription brand has voluntarily recalled every fresh meal recipe (sold as Years Signature Meals) across its puppy, adult, and senior lines, excluding only its premium Chef’s Collection.

The company serves roughly 40,000 customers across the United Kingdom. As noted by news reports, initial reports began rising in early August, with suspected cases jumping from 57 on 16 August to 192 reported incidents shortly thereafter.

According to official company statements cited across media outlets, the health issue appears linked to buckwheat, an approved ingredient introduced to the recipes earlier this year in concentrations between 6.3% and 7.2%. Years stated that

“all confirmed cases have emerged after buckwheat was introduced into the recipe, with zero confirmed cases prior to that change,”

adding that it is actively investigating potential ingredient contamination or adverse reactions in collaboration with veterinary specialists and independent toxicologists. Subscriptions have been paused for six weeks while the company reformulates its meals using quinoa.

What is the MHRA warning regarding baby rectal catheters?

As reported by News and Star, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) published an urgent Device Safety Information (DSI) alert directing parents and caregivers to stop using infant rectal catheters. The plastic devices, which are sold without a prescription in retail shops and online marketplaces, are frequently marketed to relieve trapped wind, gas, constipation, and colic in infants.

In a formal statement released by the regulatory body, Dr Alison Cave, Chief Safety Officer at the MHRA, stated:

“We understand that digestive discomfort and colic can be distressing for babies and their families. We’re advising against the use of rectal catheters in babies because there is not enough clinical evidence to support their safety and effectiveness”.

The health agency advised parents concerned about infant digestive discomfort to avoid mechanical interventions and instead consult healthcare professionals or follow National Health Service (NHS) guidance.

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What grocery items are currently affected by active supermarket recalls?

Alongside pet and medical warnings, UK shoppers at major supermarket chains such as Tesco and Waitrose are being urged by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to check their cupboards for active food safety alerts.

As detailed in FSA alerts covered by The Herald, key active recalls include:

• A. Vogel Ltd Rapunzel bioSnacky Red Clover Seeds: 30g packs of ‘Das Original Red Clover Seeds for Sprouts and Seedlings’ (Batch code: 11293, Best Before: December 2028) were recalled due to contamination with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). STEC infection can cause severe abdominal pain, bloody diarrhoea, and potentially fatal kidney failure known as Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS).
• Bon Bons Wholesale Ltd Confectionery: Multiple novelty chocolate items—including Medium Coloured Ladybirds, Small Red Ladybirds, Large Red Hearts, Mini Butterflies, and Sports Cars—have been recalled due to undeclared milk and soya allergens not mentioned on the packaging label, posing a serious risk to individuals with specific allergies.

Supermarkets have instructed customers who purchased affected food products not to consume them and to return them to their nearest branch for a full refund without requiring a receipt.

Background of the particular development

The national safety notices reflect an increasingly rigorous regulatory framework enforced by the FSA and the MHRA to monitor consumer products, human food safety, and veterinary health.

In pet food manufacturing, the introduction of non-traditional grains like buckwheat in fresh dog food subscriptions gained popularity as novel, high-protein carbohydrate alternatives.

However, the sudden rise in keratoconjunctivitis sicca cases highlights the complex supply-chain challenges associated with fresh ingredient sourcing, batch testing, and potential biological interactions or contaminants.

Similarly, the MHRA’s warning regarding unprescribed medical devices targeted at infants comes amid an expansion of direct-to-consumer health products sold online.

Because colic and infant trapped wind lack quick medical cures, parents frequently turn to over-the-counter mechanical solutions. The regulator’s decision to issue a national ‘do not use’ warning underlines a broader push to remove unevidenced invasive devices from retail shelves to prevent accidental harm or trauma to infants.

Prediction: How will this development affect UK consumers and pet owners?

These safety alerts and recalls are likely to trigger immediate operational and financial changes for affected brands, while shifting consumer buying habits across the UK:

• Heightened Caution Among Pet Owners: Subscribers to fresh pet food services will likely demand greater transparency regarding batch testing and ingredient origin. Years faces significant financial costs from customer compensation, veterinary care claims, and product reformulation. Pet owners whose dogs experienced sudden KCS will require long-term veterinary treatment, potentially driving increased scrutiny across the direct-to-door fresh pet food sector.
• Tighter Retail Controls on Infant Healthcare: Retailers and online platforms selling non-prescription medical devices will likely pull infant rectal catheters from their inventory to comply with the MHRA warning and avoid regulatory liability. Parents will be pushed back toward traditional, non-invasive advice provided by NHS primary care services and health visitors.
• Increased Vigilance at Major Retailers: Major supermarket operators like Tesco and Waitrose will reinforce their point-of-sale allergen and pathogen testing protocols. While product recalls occur routinely, public confidence relies heavily on swift recall execution at store level. Consumers who regularly purchase specialized health products or novel foods are expected to exercise greater caution, verifying FSA batch codes prior to consumption.