They left the cannoli. All the competitive eating contests — cannoli, zeppole, meatball and pizza — are being shelved at Little Italy’s Feast of San Gennaro because organizers don’t think the spectacles are representative of “Italian culture and heritage,” The Post has learned.

“Those contests are good for carnivals and Coney Island,” sniffed San Gennaro committee member John Fratta on Thursday, the first day of the iconic Little Italy festival, which runs until Sept. 24. “Having these contestants stuffing their faces with cream and sauce is not that pleasant to watch.” The stunning news hit two-time cannoli contest winner Matt Pruznick like a plate of bad scungilli.