Safety Alert: Smyths Toys Recalls Wooden Cornhole Set Over Asbestos Concerns

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has issued a product safety notice for Smyths Toys’ Wooden Cornhole Board with Bean Bags Set, which the retailer is recalling because the sand inside the bean bags may contain asbestos. For families using wooden games as active play or coordination tools, the issue is a reminder that attractive natural-looking materials do not automatically make a product safe. The immediate priority is to identify the set, stop using it, and follow the disposal guidance.

What the notice identifies

The affected product is the Smyths Toys Wooden Cornhole Board with Bean Bags Set. The notice lists:

• Brand: Smyths Toys
• Article number: 233254
• Barcode: 5390946117845

The products were available through Smyths Toys stores. According to the CCPC notice, the concern is the sand used inside the bean bags. It may contain asbestos, a substance banned across the European Union because it poses a health risk.

The notice also records current advice from HSE Public Health: based on the information available at the time, the risk to human health from these sand products is considered low. That qualification matters, but it does not make continued play appropriate. A low assessed risk is not the same as a clean material-safety finding, particularly when a soft, handled component is used around children.

What to do if the set is at home

Treat the bean bags as the key item to isolate. Do not continue using the game while waiting for further information, and avoid opening, cutting, tearing, or otherwise damaging the bags. The available notice does not provide a detailed household handling procedure, so families should not improvise by emptying the contents or placing suspected products into ordinary disposal channels without checking first.

The CCPC advises consumers who believe they may have an affected product to use a list of civic amenity sites available for disposal. That is the practical route specified in the notice. Consumers can also contact Smyths Toys customer service on 091 355 000 or email [email protected] for further information about the recall.

When checking the set, compare the article number and barcode rather than relying only on appearance. A wooden board can look generic, and surface inspection cannot establish what is inside the bean bags. Material integrity here is not a question of whether the timber looks smooth or whether the finish appears non-toxic; the concern is an internal filling that cannot be verified by touch or visual inspection.

Why this matters for wooden play equipment

Cornhole-style games are often valued for their simple construction: a board, a target opening, and small weighted bags that support throwing, aiming, and hand-eye coordination. Those developmental qualities are real, but they do not compensate for uncertain material composition. In products handled repeatedly, the entire material system matters—wood, coating, stitching, filling, packaging, and disposal route.

This notice also exposes a familiar weakness in the “natural toy” category. Wood can provide tactile integrity and durability, yet the product is not environmentally or physically sound simply because its largest visible component is timber. Hidden fillers, dyes, adhesives, and finishes deserve the same scrutiny as the board itself. A sustainability-minded assessment must follow the object from manufacturing reality to the playroom and, finally, to end-of-life handling.

The CCPC says it continues to engage with the Health Service Executive, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Health and Safety Authority as required, with further updates expected when more information becomes available. Until then, the responsible sequence is straightforward: check the identifiers, stop using a potentially affected set, keep children away from the bean bags, and use the stated disposal or customer-service channels rather than guessing.