Dr. Henderson addressed the Auburn Rotary Club concerning the national pet food scare that arose when several family pets (dogs and cats) became seriously ill, some fatally ill, in March 2007.   Dr. Henderson explained that investigating such a situation is difficult since there are more than 100 pet food companies in more than 3,500 production facilities across the country.  Unlike human food processing that is tightly monitored, pet food standards are not as strict.  The food in question was primarily in meat cuts and gravy-type of pet foods.  Sixteen dogs and cats died from tainted food.  There was a massive recall of pet foods produced shortly before the scare, and ultimately it was discovered that the tainted food was the result of a reaction between a type of plastic and acid in the wheat flour that proved toxic to some animals.  The products in question were pulled from the shelves and the scare was over by May 2007.  Hopefully this type of situation will help establish better monitoring standards for pet food in the future.