Years Signature Fresh Meal - Pork Shoulder Sage & Apple Stew
Fresh Shelf complete High meat Clear label Full label
Is Years Signature Fresh Meal - Pork Shoulder Sage & Apple Stew a good dog food?
We score it 78/100 (Good). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.
Why this score?
This recipe scored 78 out of 100 in our review. The overall quality of the ingredient list contributed +7.8 points, while the meat content added +5 points and being labelled nutritionally complete added a further +2.3 points. The carbohydrate content worked against the score, taking -2 points off the total.
Only part of the analytical constituents are declared, so the nutritional picture is incomplete.
- Recipe78
- Nutritionallow100
- Transparency55
- Safety100
- Evidencemoderate100
The Recipe score measures how attractive and transparent the declared ingredient list is. It is not, by itself, proof that the food is nutritionally appropriate for long-term feeding. The Nutritional and Evidence scores measure what we can verify towards that stronger claim.
Complete shelf-stable fresh food for dogs of all life stages, with pork, heart and pork liver as the main ingredients.
Why you might choose it
- Meat makes up an estimated 52% of the dry matter (60% as fed).
- Prints ingredient percentages on the label.
- Prints a percentage for nearly every ingredient, so the recipe is fully auditable.
Why you might not
- Low in protein: 13% protein on a dry-matter basis.
Estimated composition
Typical analysis (as fed)
- Protein
- 12.50%
- Fat
- 10.60%
- Fibre
- 1.60%
- Ash
- 2.60%
Additives & feeding info
Nutritional additives
Vitamin E 165 mg/kg; Zinc 35 mg/kg; Iron 20 mg/kg; Copper 3.5 mg/kg; Manganese 1 mg/kg; Iodine 450 µg/kg; Vitamin D3 12.5 µg/kg
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for all lifestages
- Grain-free: no grain ingredients listed
- Single named protein: pork
- Doesn't list chicken, beef, turkey, lamb, fish, venison, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- You need more protein than this: 12.5% on a dry-matter basis is in the low band
These points are derived from declared ingredients and analysis, not a substitute for veterinary advice. If your dog has a diagnosed condition, food choice is a medical nutrition decision: speak to your vet. Use the homepage filter to find foods that fit your dog.
Ingredients (24)
| # | As declared | Matched | Category | Tier | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fresh Pork Shoulder (24%) | Pork | meat | medium | 24 | 24.0 |
| 2 | Fresh Pork Heart (23%) | Heart | meat | good | 23 | 23.0 |
| 3 | Fresh Pork Liver (11%) | Pork Liver | meat | good | 11 | 11.0 |
| 4 | Fresh Red Pepper (9.3%) | Red Pepper | veg | good | 9.3 | 9.3 |
| 5 | Fresh Parsnip (7%) | Parsnips | veg | good | 7 | 7.0 |
| 6 | Quinoa (5.5%) | Quinoa | carb | good | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| 7 | Fresh Spinach Leaf (4.1%) | Spinach | veg | good | 4.1 | 4.1 |
| 8 | Fresh Sweet Potato (3.5%) | Sweet Potatoes | carb | good | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| 9 | Fresh Yellow Pepper (3.4%) | Fresh Yellow Pepper | veg | good | 3.4 | 3.4 |
| 10 | Rosemary-Infused Sunflower Oil (2.3%) | Sunflower oil | oil | good | 2.3 | 2.3 |
| 11 | Fresh Pork Kidney (2%) | Kidney | meat | good | 2 | 2.0 |
| 12 | Vitamins and Minerals (1.8%) | Vitamins and minerals | supplement | medium | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| 13 | Deactivated Nutritional Yeast (1%) | Yeast | supplement | good | 1 | 1.0 |
| 14 | Fresh Apple (1%) | Apples | veg | good | 1 | 1.0 |
| 15 | Cold-Pressed Hempseed Oil (0.5%) | Hemp Oil | oil | good | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| 16 | 0.05% Algae Powder | Seaweed | veg | good | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| 17 | 0.05% Sage | Sage | veg | good | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| 18 | 0.05% Nettle Powder | Nettles | veg | good | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| 19 | 0.05% Dandelion Powder | Dandelion Root | veg | good | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| 20 | 0.05% Alfalfa Powder | Alfalfa Powder | fibre | medium | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| 21 | 0.05% Chamomile Powder | Chamomile | veg | good | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| 22 | 0.05% Chicory Root Powder | Chicory root | veg | good | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| 23 | 0.05% Kelp | Kelp | veg | good | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| 24 | Pink Himalayan Salt (0.2%) | Salt | additive | medium | 0.2 | 0.2 |
Brand
- Website
- https://www.years.com/
- Phone
- 07380337761
- Contact page
- www.years.com
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-26
- Scored with
- Model v3 (methodology)
- Product page
- shop.years.com
Recall history is presentation-only and never affects the score. Dates are when we recorded the data, not when the manufacturer last changed the recipe.
Spotted a mistake in this listing? Report it here and we'll take a look.
Recipe: how the 1-100 score is calculated
Scored with model v3 on 2026-09-26. Each component is the feature value for this product multiplied by the model's published coefficient.
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.9 | 9.191 | +7.82 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 52.4% | 0.096 | +5.03 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 17.8% | -0.115 | -2.05 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 8.6% | -0.092 | -0.80 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 12.5% | -0.005 | -0.06 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 0.6% | 0.163 | +0.09 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 8.0% | -0.012 | -0.10 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | yes | 0.707 | +0.71 |
| Additive penalty | -0.24 | 0.222 | -0.05 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.00 | 33.786 | +33.79 |
| Processing: Fresh Shelf | yes | -0.672 | -0.67 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.9 | 9.191 | +7.82 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 52.4% | 0.096 | +5.03 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 17.8% | -0.115 | -2.05 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 8.6% | -0.092 | -0.80 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 12.5% | -0.005 | -0.06 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 0.6% | 0.163 | +0.09 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 8.0% | -0.012 | -0.10 |
| Other share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.375 | +0.00 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.027 | +0.00 |
| Recipe graded poor | 0.0% | -0.065 | +0.00 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 0 | -0.876 | +0.00 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 0.0% | 0.060 | +0.00 |
| Undeclared quantities | 0.0% | -0.106 | +0.00 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| Frozen or chilled fresh | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | yes | 0.707 | +0.71 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | no | -3.158 | +0.00 |
| High carb and low meat | no | -1.180 | +0.00 |
| Meat share × printed percentages | 0.0 | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Meat share × fresh | 0.0 | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Fresh × high meat | 0.0 | 11.084 | +0.00 |
| Additive penalty | -0.24 | 0.222 | -0.05 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.00 | 33.786 | +33.79 |
| Processing: Raw | no | -0.054 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Chilled | no | -2.354 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Frozen | no | -2.354 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Refrigerated | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Shelf | yes | -0.672 | -0.67 |
| Processing: Dry Freeze Dried | no | 6.629 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Air Dried | no | 6.331 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Cold Pressed | no | -6.713 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Baked | no | -6.713 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | no | -6.713 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Semi Moist | no | -6.174 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Muesli | no | -10.146 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Pate | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Chunks | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
- Processing-type offset
- -0.08
- Additives declared on label
- +1 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 77.8
- Final score
- 78/100
Contributions are rounded to two decimals, so they may not sum exactly to the subtotal. The full coefficient table is published on the methodology page.
Nutritional: declared analysis vs reference ranges
How the declared analysis compares with FEDIAF reference ranges for adult dogs. The label prints as-fed values; we convert to a dry-matter basis before scoring, and the bands are dry-matter ranges. Scores rise to 100 at the band midpoint: the reference is adequacy, not maximisation. Nutrients with a published upper limit taper again above it; fat is policed through calorie density rather than a direct penalty.
| Nutrient | As fed (label) | Dry matter (scored) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 12.5 | 50 (band 18 to 40%) | 100 |
| Fat | 10.6 | 42.4 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 1.6 | 6.4 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
Scored over 3 declared nutrients (combined weight 50); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 75% from the food type.
Low confidence: partial analysis or moisture estimated from the food type.
This measures agreement with published reference ranges, not suitability for an individual dog. For medical conditions, follow veterinary guidance.
Transparency: what the label discloses
How much the manufacturer discloses, measured against the FEDIAF Code of Good Labelling Practice and Regulation 767/2009. Mandatory items dominate the weighting.
| Item | Points |
|---|---|
| Ingredient list on the label (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Printed percentages on the label (100% of the recipe mass) (voluntary) | 20/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) - not on file | 0/15 |
| Additives declared (mandatory) | 5/10 |
| Energy value declared (voluntary) - not on file | 0/5 |
| Complete/complementary designation (mandatory) | 5/5 |
| Feeding guidance given (mandatory) - not on file | 0/10 |
| Manufacturer identity and address (mandatory) | 5/10 |
| Country of manufacture stated (voluntary) | 10/10 |
| Batch and date labelling (mandatory) - not on file | 0/5 |
Capped at 60: mandatory items missing (Analytical constituents declared, Feeding guidance given, Batch and date labelling).
Safety: recall history
Recall and safety-notice history, time-decayed. This dimension is shown alongside the score and never feeds the headline number.
No recalls recorded in our database.
See all current recalls we track.
Evidence: what the brand claims, and what supports it
The claims made on the pack and product page, checked against the declared label. We record claims as stated; "consistent" means our stored label data supports the claim, "contradicted" means it conflicts with it. Functional claims are recorded but never scored.
100/100 · moderate — 1 checkable claim: 1 consistent, 0 contradicted.
Consistent with the label
- "All our meals are made from real wholefood ingredients with no fillers, grains or preservatives" — supported by the declared grain-free data.
6 further claims on file that we cannot check against the label.
Moderate: every checkable claim is consistent with the declared label.
| Claim | Type | Check | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60% prime cuts of pork shoulder (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| No preservatives (on page) | Free-from | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| 20+ wholefood ingredients (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| A 100% complete nutrition system (on page) | Nutrient | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| supports joint health, immunity and a shiny coat (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| All our meals are made from real wholefood ingredients with no fillers, grains or preservatives (on page) | Free-from | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
| Nutritionally complete food suitable for dogs of all life stages (on page) | Nutrient | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
The full scoring method is published. See the methodology for exactly how the headline score and each dimension are calculated.
Other products from Years
Alternatives to Signature Fresh Meal - Pork Shoulder Sage & Apple Stew
Foods in our database that are similar on ingredients, protein, format or price. Scores and figures are from the same deterministic model used everywhere on the site.
Community
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share how this went down with your dog.