Sweden’s minister for gender equality and work life allegedly suffers from an irrational fear of bananas that prevents her from coming anywhere near the popular fruit.

Paulina Brandberg first mentioned her banana phobia in a since-deleted 2020 tweet, describing it as “the world’s weirdest phobia,” but the issue recently resurfaced and made national news in Sweden after The Expressed newspaper published a series of leaked emails that revealed the strength of her aversion to the yellow fruit. Brandberg’s staff have been going to great measures to ensure that the 41-year-old politician does not come into contact with the fruit, messaging people and venues she was scheduled beforehand to inform them about her phobia, and making sure no rogue bananas make an appearance.

Photo: Ian Talmacs/Unsplash

“No traces of bananas must be in the room,” her staff wrote in a letter to the Swedish speaker’s office in September, adding that the minister suffers from a “strong allergy”.

“We will secure the conference so that there are no bananas,” Brandberg’s staff mentioned in an email, confirming their dedication to keeping the Swedish minister safe.

Paulina Brandberg declined to comment on her unusual phobia but confirmed that it was an issue for her and that she would see a doctor about it in the near future.

Banana phobia is rare, but it can cause serious symptoms like anxiety and nausea and can be triggered by seeing or smelling the fruit.