With regard to the concern about hormones and antibiotics in modern
"industrial" food being responsible for people getting bigger (known as
"positive secular trend") -- there is no evidence that this is a cause.
What is known is that adequate diet in childhood, both proteins and
calories, and fewer diseases due to cleaner environments, eradication of
diseases, immunizations, and antibiotics, all contribute to more rapid
growth in childhood, earlier puberty, and larger adult size.  Positive
secular trend is found in any population worldwide where the diet and
medical care have improved, even in places where little or no meat is
consumed, and in places where the cows and chickens are all "free range" and
have no added hormones or antibiotics.  Also, genetically engineered
bacteria that produce Bovine Growth Hormone are making the very same
chemical that the cows' own body produces.  It comes through the milk to the
same extent that regular bovine growth hormone does, and because cows and
humans are only very distantly related (we're both mammals), bovine growth
hormone has no effect on human growth.  In fact, if your human child has a
deficiency of human growth hormone, you have to use either real human growth
hormone derived from cadavers (very expensive) or else lab-produced human
growth hormone, in order to treat the deficiency.  No other animal's growth
hormone seems to help humans (chimpanzees might, but there aren't enough
chimpanzee cadavers around to use).

Re peanut and milk allergies -- I have a friend whose child is DEATHLY
allergic to cows' milk and a variety of nuts, and eggs, and lots of other
things.  He's gone into anaphylactic shock three times.  Usual response is
immediate projectile vomiting (he's almost 5 years old).  She is constantly
battling well-meaning teachers and friend's parents who think "A little milk
can't possible hurt".  Also, she tells me that some cereal companies don't
clean the equipment between packaging boxes of "Dates, Raisins, and Pecans"
cereal, and the "Plain Old Bran" variety.  So you may buy the "Plain Old
Bran" but it was packed by machines that had just been used to pack cereal
with nuts.  Her son has had several reactions to cereal, and she was given
this information when she called the companies to try to find out which
ingredient might have triggered an allergic response.  Scary stuff.  Even
Elmer's Glue has something in it (whey??) that he is allergic to, so he
can't use glue at school, or touch anything with glue on it.

Kathy Dettwyler