Although rare, banana phobia can be triggered by seeing or smelling the fruit and can cause serious symptoms such as anxiety and nausea.

Emails sent before official visits, including VIP lunches, request “no bananas” at certain properties and mention that Brandberg has a “strong allergy” to the fruit.

In a response to Expressen, the Liberal party minister confirmed it was a phobia but described its effect on him as “some form of allergy” and “something for which I have received professional help”.

BBC News has contacted Brandberg’s office for comment.

Carvalho, an MP and the Social Democrats’ legal policy spokesman, stated that he suffered from “the same ailment” as Brandberg and said: “We may have had many difficult discussions about the conditions in working life, but on this issue we are united against a common enemy.”

As with many rare phobias, it can be difficult to determine the causal factors for people with banana phobia, but experts say it may often stem from childhood.