Why can't beekeepers eat bananas?

Beekeepers are sometimes advised not to eat bananas before working with bees because bananas contain compound isoamyl acetate, which is also component of bee alarm pheromone that signals danger to colony and can make bees more defensive and likely to sting, though this is more myth than strict rule and many beekeepers do eat bananas without issues. Bee alarm pheromone is released when bee stings or is threatened, and it smells like bananas to some people, as isoamyl acetate has banana like odor, and theory is that eating bananas causes human to emit similar smell through sweat or breath that could alarm bees and provoke stinging, but scientific evidence for this is limited and amount of isoamyl acetate in banana that would be excreted through skin is very small and unlikely to trigger colony defense. However, some beekeepers avoid bananas, strong perfumes, and alcohol before working hives as precaution to avoid any scent that might irritate bees, as bees are sensitive to strong odors. Another reason sometimes cited is that bananas and bee venom share similar proteins that could trigger allergic reactions, but this is not well supported. So beekeepers can eat bananas, but some avoid them before hive work due to myth about alarm pheromone similarity, though many experienced beekeepers eat bananas regularly without problems, and more important factors for avoiding stings are moving slowly, wearing protective gear, and using smoke to calm bees.