In an unusual turn of events, Sweden's Gender Equality Minister Paulina Brandberg has prompted her staff to ensure "banana-proof" environments during official visits due to her pronounced phobia of bananas. Following reports from the local media outlet, Expressen, leaked emails reveal staff requests for the removal of bananas prior to public engagements, indicating that Brandberg has a "strong allergy" to the fruit.
Brandberg herself has acknowledged on social media, prior to deleting the posts, that she has "the world's weirdest phobia of bananas." The Liberal party minister later recounted that her fear manifests itself similarly to an allergy, explaining that she is seeking professional help for the issue.
Sharing this uncommon fear, fellow politician Teresa Carvalho has also come forward, stating her solidarity with Brandberg on their mutual bananaphobia, positing that despite political differences, they are united against what they deem to be a "common enemy."
Experts on phobias suggest that rare conditions like bananaphobia can often be traced back to childhood experiences, but specific causal factors may vary from person to person. While it may sound trivial for some, for individuals like Brandberg and Carvalho, the sight or scent of bananas can induce severe anxiety and nausea.
The conversation surrounding Brandberg’s phobia sheds light on the complexities of such fears, as well as the measures that individuals with phobias may take to cope with them in everyday life.
