The Mayor of Bologna has launched an awareness campaign to untangle the reputation of his city from the pasta wrongly thought to originate there.

Spaghetti Bolognese is a favourite around the world but has no particular tie to the city in north Italy.

“Dear residents, I am collecting photos of spaghetti Bolognese from around the world (speaking of fake news). This one is from London, please send me yours,” wrote Mayor Virginio Merola on social media earlier this week.

Pictures rolled in of Knorr “spaghetti Bolognese” sauce spice mix from Austria, a sad, plastic confection of overcooked pasta from Utrecht, a jar of Heinz sauce from Ocado in Britain and a black board offering “Bolonske Spagety” in Moravia.

Mr Merola said Wednesday he plans to collect all the photos sent to him and create an exhibit for the city’s newly minted FICO Eataly World, the world’s largest food theme park. Increasing numbers of tourists are flocking to Bologna to sample its gastronomy, Mr Merola said, but there’s one dish they won’t find.

“It is strange to be famous all over the world for a dish that isn’t ours,” he told the Telegraph. “Of course we are happy that it draws attention to our city, but we would prefer to be known for the quality food that is part of our culinary tradition.”