Snake bile is reputed to calm the mind and eliminate phlegm - but eating it raw can lead to serious disease, the Consumer Council warned yesterday.
A snake's gall bladder is removed as soon as the reptile is killed and then stored in wine - leading many people to believe it can be kept sterilised.
'But the alcohol content of such wine is usually 30 per cent to 50 per cent which is less than the best concentration for disinfection - 70 per cent,' said Dr Lo Chi-kin, spokesman for the council.
'As the gall bladder is sold intact, the alcohol cannot kill the germs inside.' The council said snake products might carry some health benefits, with the meat recommended by traditional medicine practitioners as an aid to circulation, but consumers took a risk if they ate the products raw.
The council said there had been reports of people on the mainland and in Taiwan eating raw snake bile and then developing serious problems, such as becoming infected with snake parasites or contracting acute hepatitis.
While no similar reports had been received in Hong Kong, consumers were urged to follow general food hygiene including making sure the food was clean and properly cooked.