By 

Amy Morin, LCSW 

 Fact checked by 

Cara Lustik

A cult is an organized group whose purpose is to dominate cult members through psychological manipulation and pressure strategies.¹ Cults are usually headed by a powerful leader who isolates members from the rest of society.

Some individuals who join cults remain lifelong members. Others break free and share how it felt to be brainwashed by a charismatic leader. But there are also some individuals who leave a cult and report that their experience was positive.

Studying cults is difficult for a few different reasons. It’s nearly impossible to study active cult members due to their unwillingness to let others into their closed societies. Quite often, they are suspicious of outsiders.

Consequently, cults are usually examined from the perspective of former members. But sometimes, individuals are reluctant to talk about their experiences as cult members. For these reasons and others, it can even be tricky to agree on a solid definition of a cult, especially given many of the stereotypes presented in film, TV, and other media. Not all cults have to be high profile groups that make headlines.

How to Recognize a Cult

Sometimes individuals disagree about whether a group, such as a certain religious group, is actually a cult. Even researchers sometimes can’t agree on what constitutes a cult.

Most people can agree that cults have a leader. And the leader (or group of people who serve as leaders) is responsible for the rules that guide the members.

According to the Cult Education Institute, there are specific warning signs to look out for when considering whether a group might be a cult. Cults are characterized by:²

1. Absolute authoritarianism without accountability
2. Zero tolerance for criticism or questions
3. Lack of meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget
4. Unreasonable fears about the outside world that often involve evil conspiracies and persecutions
5. A belief that former followers are always wrong for leaving and there is never a legitimate reason for anyone else to leave
6. Abuse of members
7. Records, books, articles, or programs documenting the abuses of the leader or group
8. Followers feeling they are never able to be “good enough”
9. A belief that the leader is right at all times
10. A belief that the leader is the exclusive means of knowing “truth” or giving validation

Cults are dangerous because they typically rely on deceptive and authoritarian practices to make members dependent on and obedient to the group. Cults often cut members off from other forms of social and financial support and pose both physical and psychological risks to members of the group.¹

Source: verywellmind.com for the complete article

** Cargill recalls more than 100 tons of liquid egg products because of cleaning solution contamination

** Idaho Smokehouse Partners Recalls Ready-To-Eat Beef Stick Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination

Idaho Smokehouse Partners, LLC, a Shelley, Idaho establishment, is recalling approximately 29,541 pounds of ready-to-eat beef stick products that may be contaminated with foreign material, specifically metal, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

**

** SeaBear Salmon Chowder and Alehouse Clam Chowder are being recalled.

The recalled products were sold at retail locations in five states and online.

Botulism can cause symptoms like constipation and general weakness.

There’s an active recall on two varieties of packaged shelf-stable soups, according to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). This is due to botulism risk. The recall includes SeaBear Smokehouse-branded chowder products, sold in 12-ounce packages. The following products are being recalled:

Alehouse Clam Chowder with UPC “0 34507 07021 1” and best-by dates 6/2028, 11/2028 or 1/2029

Smoked Salmon Chowder with UPC “0 34507 07001 3” and best-by dates 10/2028, 11/2028, 12/2028 or 1/2029,
These soups were sold in retail locations in the following states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington. They were also shipped nationwide to consumers via online orders on SeaBear’s website.

** Over 197,000 cans of Good & Gather Cut Green Beans recalled because of foreign object contamination.

** There’s an ongoing recall on approximately 2,033,256 cans of coconut water sold in 29 states, according to the Food and Drug Administration.¹

U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Enforcement report: Jarritos coconut water. This is due to a packaging issue that poses a botulism risk.

The Jarritos brand coconut water was sold in 17.5-fl.-oz. cans at retailers in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.

** Trader Joe’s just announced a recall on approximately 61,500 bottles of sparkling water.

Trader Joe’s. Product safety notification: Gerolsteiner sparkling water. This is due to the bottles being potentially cracked or damaged, causing a laceration hazard. The sparkling water product affected is the Gerolsteiner-branded Sparkling Natural Mineral Water. The recalled 750-milliliter bottles have printed lot codes “11/28/2024 L” or “11/27/2024 L” and best-by dates of December 18 or 19, 2027. 

** Daily Veggies brand Enoki Mushrooms recalled after testing finds Listeria contamination

By News Desk on March 13, 2025

New Age International Inc. of Brooklyn, NY, is recalling all lots of its Daily Veggies brand Enoki Mushroom (200g), Product of Korea, because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Consumers, particularly young children, frail or elderly individuals, and those with weakened immune systems, run the risk of serious or…Continue Reading

** Oyster crackers distributed by Walmart, Target and Giant Eagle recalled in 24 states because of metal contamination

By News Desk on March 13, 2025

Shearer’s Foods, LLC, of Massillon, OH, is recalling 15,874 cases of various oyster cracker products because of potential contamination with stainless steel wire fragments.

According to details published online by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the recall was initiated on Feb. 21, 2025, and is ongoing. The firm voluntarily…Continue Reading

** More than half a million Organic Acai Bowls recalled because of potential plastic contamination

By News Desk on March 13, 2025

Stiebs LLC, of Madera, CA, is recalling 25,484 cases of Organic Acai Bowls with berries, bananas, granola and dried coconut because of potential contamination with blue pieces of plastic.

According to details published online by the Food and Drug Administration, the recall was initiated on Feb. 7, 2025, and is…Continue Reading

** Spicin Foods recalls garlic parmesan sauce after foaming reports

By News Desk on Mar 07, 2025 10:19 am Spicin Foods Inc. of Kansas City, KS is recalling over 10,000 bottles of Noble Made Garlic Parmesan Wing Sauce because of customer complaints of bottles foaming when opened. According to the details published online by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), the recall was initiated on Feb. 12, 2025, and… Continue Reading

** FDA increases import controls on some seafood and canned foods

By News Desk on Mar 08, 2025 12:03 am The Food and Drug Administration uses import alerts to enforce U.S. food safety regulations for food from foreign countries. The agency updates and modifies the alerts as needed. Recent modifications to FDA’s import alerts, as posted by the agency, are listed below. Click here to go to the FDA page… Continue Reading

Over 71,000 cups of King Harvest Hummus recalled because of plastic fragments

By News Desk on Mar 07, 2025 10:37 am Pacific Coast Fresh Co. of Portland, OR, is recalling 71,987 cups of various King Harvest Hummus products because of potential contamination with plastic fragments. According to details published online by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the recall was initiated on Feb. 4, 2025, and is ongoing. The firm voluntarily… Continue Reading

** California company recalls packaged vegetables because of risk of botulism

By News Desk on Mar 04, 2025 05:00 pm AKT Trading Inc. of Torrance, CA, is recalling certain prepared vegetable products manufactured by Choshiya Honten Co. Ltd. because of a potential risk of Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium which causes botulism poisoning. The products lack the necessary “Keep Refrigerated” statement, which could lead to hazardous bacterial growth if stored at… Continue Reading

** RTE meals linked to nearly 200 illnesses in Singapore

By News Desk on Mar 05, 2025 12:01 am The number of people sick as part of an outbreak in Singapore has risen to almost 200. In February, 20 students from the School of the Arts (SOTA) became ill after having ready-to-eat (RTE) meals during the Food Resilience Preparedness Programme, as part of the Total Defence Day commemoration. This… Continue Reading

** Raw milk from New York dairy tests positive for Listeria monocytogenes

By News Desk on Mar 04, 2025 06:54 pm Willow Marsh Farm has ceased sales of its unpasteurized, raw milk after tests showed it was positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The New York dairy announced the test results on its Facebook page. The dairy had been awaiting confirmation test results, which it received on March 4. All milk sold between… Continue Reading