Did McDonald’s in the US change their logo to a cow with blood-stained bones?

According to a widely shared social media post, McDonald’s, a well-known fast-food giant, has released a new logo that allegedly depicts animal abuse. One of the images in the post shows a cow’s head poking out from the recognisable arches of the business’s emblem. Numerous social media users have shared and commented on the aforementioned post numerous times. Nevertheless, Fact Crescendo’s fact-finding investigation showed that the Facebook photo is AI-generated.

This is about our investigation of this claim.

Social Media Claim

On December 13, 2023, a Facebook user posted a photo showing a cow with blood-stained bones resembling the new logo of McDonald’s in the US. Such statements have been circulated several times, with mixed reactions and expressions from Facebook users.

The following is a snapshot captured from the Facebook user above, who wrote in Hindi “अमेरिका में मैकडोनाल्ड का नया logo. आखिर किसी की भी की क्या मजबूरी है इस गाय का कत्ल करने वाली कंपनी का सामान खाने की” or translates in English as “McDonald's new logo in America. What is the compulsion for anyone to eat the products of this cow slaughtering company?”.

Facebook Post | Archived Link

Such photos have also been posted and found on Instagram. The full confirmation message is below.

Instagram Post | Archived Link

We have also found the same claim attached to a photo posted on X (formerly Twitter) as well.

X Link | Archived Link

Fact Check

Fact Crescendo reviewed and verified the above claim through the Google Reverse Image Search process, which led to the following facts:

As of this article published, there were no official announcements or indications that McDonald’s in the US was planning to change or adjust its company logo. However, companies often evolve their branding over time to stay relevant and appealing to consumers.

Through the Hive Moderation website, which is a website and a program to verify the text or images produced by intellectual technology, artificial intelligence has shown results that confirm that those aspects were 98.9% created by software (AI) only.

HIVE Moderation Link | Archived Link

McDonald’s present headquarters are in Chicago, Illinois. Currently, Chris Kempczinski is the Company President and CEO while Joe Erlinger is the President of McDonald’s USA.

The following capture is the McDonald’s President and CEO, Chris Kempczinski.

McDonald’s Link | Archived Link

The history of McDonald’s logos

The history of McDonald's logos spans several decades and reflects the evolution of the company’s brand identity. Here are some key points in the history of McDonald’s logos:

1940s-1950s: The first McDonald’s logo was introduced in the 1940s. It featured a chef character with a rounded, stylized appearance, holding a hot dog-shaped sign that read “McDonald’s Famous Barbecue”,
1960s: In 1961, McDonald’s commissioned designer Jim Schindler to create a new logo. This logo was the first to incorporate the iconic golden arches, which were initially designed as an architectural feature for the restaurant buildings,
Early 1960s to 2003: The logo evolved gradually over the years, with the arches becoming more stylized and prominent. By the early 1960s, the arches had settled into the “M” shape that is widely recognized today,
2003 to Present: In 2003, McDonald’s introduced a major redesign of its logo. The new logo retained the iconic golden arches but made them more three-dimensional and rounded. The word “McDonald’s” was placed alongside the arches in a modern, bold font,
Recent Variants: Over the years, McDonald’s has occasionally created variations of its logo for special occasions or promotions. These variants often incorporate seasonal elements or tie-ins with marketing campaigns,

Color Variations: The traditional colors used in the McDonald’s logo are yellow and red. Yellow symbolizes happiness and positivity, while red is associated with energy and passion. These colors are intended to create a welcoming and vibrant atmosphere for customers.

DesignRush Link | Archived Link

Fact Crescendo has also conducted a search whether McDonald’s in the US has changed their logo to a cow with blood-stained bones.

McDonald’s in the US did not change their logo to a cow with blood-stained bones. The above claim and photo does not match any legitimate change or update to McDonald’s logo that has occurred. McDonald’s has historically maintained a consistent branding approach with their logo, which prominently features the iconic golden arches and the name “McDonald’s” in a stylized font.

Any claims or images suggesting a drastic change to a logo resembling a cow with blood-stained bones are likely misinformation or part of satire, parody, or artistic interpretation rather than an official rebranding by McDonald’s.

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Conclusion

Fact Crescendo found that the photo attached to the claims mentioned above is not real. These photos are made by artificial intelligence (AI) technology, not the actual scene, and McDonald’s in the US does not have any plans to adjust its logo at all.