Swedish Minister’s Banana Phobia Leads to Staff Requests for Fruit-Free Areas

Reports indicate that a Swedish minister’s aversion to bananas has resulted in government personnel requesting the removal of the fruit from certain areas. The local news source Expressen has cited leaked emails it reviewed, showing that staff members supporting Minister Paulina Brandberg requested the absence of bananas prior to official engagements. Brandberg, who serves as the nation’s gender equality minister, reportedly shared on X in 2020 that she possesses the “world’s weirdest phobia of bananas.” These posts have since been removed. Another Swedish politician, Teresa Carvalho, also stated on X that she experiences bananaphobia and expressed solidarity with Brandberg regarding this matter. While not common, bananaphobia can be provoked by either the sight or scent of the fruit, potentially leading to significant symptoms such as anxiety and nausea. Correspondence reportedly dispatched ahead of official engagements, including a VIP lunch, requested that “no bananas” be present in specific locations, citing Brandberg’s “strong allergy” to the fruit. Responding to Expressen, the Liberal party minister verified that it is a phobia, but characterized its effect on her as “sort of an allergy” and “something I’m getting professional help for.” BBC News has reached out to Brandberg’s office seeking a statement. Carvalho, an MP and the Social Democratic spokesperson for legal policy, stated that she experienced “from the same ailment” as Brandberg, and conveyed to her: “We may have had many tough debates about conditions in working life, but on this issue we stand united against a common enemy.” Similar to numerous uncommon phobias, identifying the underlying causes for individuals with bananaphobia can be challenging, though experts suggest it frequently originates in childhood. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.