Screw Worm And Your Wallet 6/8/26

Summary

Your Money Minute — "Screw Worm And Your Wallet" (6/8/26)

Host: Jessica Ettinger (CNBC)
Guest: Pippa Stevens
Date: June 8, 2026
Runtime: ~60 seconds

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Episode Overview

This episode of Your Money Minute tackles the surprising connection between a rare livestock parasite outbreak—the New World screwworm—and rising beef prices in the U.S. Host Jessica Ettinger and CNBC’s Pippa Stevens break down how current events in agriculture, specifically an emerging parasite threat, could impact your grocery bill and wallet.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Food Inflation and Beef Price Surge

• Beef prices are sharply up:
  • "Nearly $7 a pound now on average for ground beef in the US in the latest Consumer Price Index report."
    —Jessica Ettinger [00:05]

2. New World Screwworm Returns After Decades

• First U.S. cattle outbreak since 1966:
  • "The three week old calf in Texas tested positive for New World screwworm, the first case in the cattle herd since 1966."
    —Pippa Stevens [00:17]
• What is the screwworm?
  • Not a worm, but a parasitic fly.
  • The larvae ("more like a worm") particularly threaten newborn calves, often fatally if not treated swiftly.
    —Jessica Ettinger [00:27]

3. Potential Impact on Beef Supply and Prices

• Outbreak could shrink herds and send prices higher:
  • "A big outbreak could lead to an even smaller US Herd and higher beef prices."
    —Pippa Stevens [00:39]
• Consumer perception matters:
  • "Unless the public becomes a little disturbed by the idea of eating that meat..."
    —Jessica Ettinger [00:44]
• No food safety issue, but consumer hesitation possible:
  • "Animals that recover from New World Screwworm can enter the food supply, but consumers might be a little bit reluctant to buy beef for the time being."
    —Pippa Stevens [00:49]

4. USDA Response and Cattle Industry Trends

• Strict protocols to limit spread:
  • "The U.S. department of Agriculture has strict protocols to try to prevent the spread of the fly and its larva."
    —Jessica Ettinger [01:00]
• Smallest cattle herd in decades:
  • "The US cattle herd is now at its lowest since the 1950s because at one point American demand for beef waned and raising cattle got really expensive. So a lot of ranchers left the business."
    —Jessica Ettinger [01:06]

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On food inflation hitting home:
  "Nearly $7 a pound now on average for ground beef in the US..."
  —Jessica Ettinger [00:05]

• On the return of screwworm:
  "The three week old calf in Texas tested positive for New World screwworm, the first case in the cattle herd since 1966."
  —Pippa Stevens [00:17]

• Clarifying safety and perception:
  "This is not a food safety issue. Animals that recover... can enter the food supply, but consumers might be a little bit reluctant to buy beef for the time being."
  —Pippa Stevens [00:49]

• On broader cattle industry shifts:
  "The US cattle herd is now at its lowest since the 1950s..."
  —Jessica Ettinger [01:06]

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Timeline of Important Segments

• 00:00–00:17 — Jessica Ettinger introduces the problem: food inflation and a new threat to the cattle industry.
• 00:17–00:39 — Pippa Stevens reports on the screwworm outbreak, its rarity, and its risks.
• 00:39–01:00 — Discussion of potential impacts on beef supply and consumer attitudes.
• 01:00–01:17 — USDA response protocols and context around cattle herd levels.
• 01:17–01:25 — Closing remarks and resources for tracking food price trends.

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Takeaways

• Beef prices are likely to remain high and could climb further if the screwworm outbreak spreads.
• Though there is no food safety risk, consumer perceptions of beef may shift in the short term.
• Long-term trends affecting cattle supply continue to impact prices.

Stay updated on food inflation and agricultural issues at CNBC.com for more breaking news and personal finance tips.

Transcript

[Jessica Ettinger]

With a CNBC your Money Minute, I'm Jessica Ettinger. Food inflation is real. Nearly $7 a pound now on average for ground beef in the US in the latest Consumer Price Index report. And you could pay even more now that the New World screwworm

[Pippa Stevens]

is here. The three week old calf in Texas tested positive for New World screwworm, the first case in the cattle herd since 1966. It's actually

[Jessica Ettinger]

not a worm, it's a parasitic fly. But the larva, which is more like a worm, especially infests newborn calves which can die quickly without treatment. CNBC's Pippa Stevens reports that a big outbreak could lead to an even smaller US Herd and higher beef prices. Unless the public becomes a little disturbed by the idea of eating that meat, this is

[Pippa Stevens]

not a food safety issue. Animals that recover from New World Screwworm can enter the food supply, but consumers might be a little bit reluctant to buy beef for the time being.

[Jessica Ettinger]

The U.S. department of Agriculture has strict protocols to try to prevent the spread of the fly and its larva. The US cattle herd is now at its lowest since the 1950s because at one point American demand for beef waned and raising cattle got really expensive. So a lot of ranchers left the business. You can keep up on food price inflation in the food business. @cnbc.com I'm Jessica Ettinger. CNBC

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