In a quirky twist, Sweden’s Gender Equality Minister, Paulina Brandberg, has brought the spotlight to her rare phobia of bananas, leading her staff to take precautions during her official engagements. Local media outlet Expressen reported emails requesting the removal of all bananas from areas where Brandberg is scheduled to appear. This initiative stems from her own declaration of having "the world's weirdest phobia of bananas," made in a now-deleted post on X in 2020.
Interestingly, she is not alone. Fellow politician Teresa Carvalho has also spoken out about her own bananaphobia, creating a unique bond over their shared fear. Both politicians expressed their camaraderie in facing this uncommon issue; Carvalho humorously referred to bananas as their “common enemy.”
Bananaphobia can provoke significant anxiety and nausea, particularly triggered by the sight or smell of bananas. The leaked emails mentioned that Brandberg refers to her phobia as "sort of an allergy" and confirmed she is undergoing professional help for it.
Despite its rarity, bananaphobia can often have roots in childhood experiences, as proclaimed by mental health experts. As Sweden navigates unique phobias in politics, it just goes to show that sometimes, even politicians have to take a stand against their fears.
