Swedish Minister for Gender Equality, Paulina Brandberg, has brought a unique challenge to her office with her stated phobia of bananas, leading to unusual requests for "banana-free" zones during her official engagements. Leaked emails reviewed by local news outlet Expressen revealed that her team has proactively asked to ensure that no bananas are present at events, including high-profile functions like VIP lunches.
Brandberg, whose discomfort with bananas she famously dubbed “the world’s weirdest phobia” in a now-removed social media post from 2020, reinforces her unusual request by describing her phobia as akin to an allergy. In her words, it is a condition that she is actively seeking professional help for, illustrating the serious impact this fear can have on her well-being.
The emails reportedly referred to a "strong allergy" toward the fruit, prompting staff to take extra measures to accommodate her needs. Fellow politician Teresa Carvalho has expressed solidarity regarding their shared experience of bananaphobia, saying, “We may have had many tough debates… but on this issue, we stand united against a common enemy".
Although rare, phobias like bananaphobia can have substantial roots which may trace back to traumatic childhood experiences; experts often find it challenging to pinpoint exact causes. Nevertheless, the phenomenon continues to draw interest, highlighting the peculiarities that sometimes accompany public office.
