Paulina Brandberg‚ Swedens minister for gender equality needs help with her un-usual fear which makes govt staff do extra work before meetings (they have to check rooms for specific items)
About 4 years ago‚ she wrote on social media about having the “worlds weirdest phobia“; however that post isnt available anymore. Recent leaked e-mails show her team had to make special arrangements: they asked for banana-free zones due to what they called a “strong allergy“
The situation got more complex when her staff contacted Andreas Norlén‚ the parliament speaker with specific requests; they wanted to ensure there were no traces of the fruit anywhere near where the minister would be. In a news-paper interview Brandberg explained its “sort of an allergy“ and mentioned shes getting professional help
- Seeing or smelling bananas can cause anxiety
- The phobia often starts in childhood
- Symptoms include feeling sick when near bananas
It bothers me that a hard-working minister is now almost reduced to a phobia
Support came from unexpected places - Teresa Carvalho‚ an opposition party MP shared that she has the same fear saying they “stand united against a common enemy“ despite their political differences