Abstract: Deoxynivalenol (DON) is also called vomitoxin (VT) which is a mycotoxin produced by some Fusarium, and widely exists in corn, barley, wheat, and other agricultural product and feedstuff. DON has a wide toxic effect on human and different species of animals. DON can cause the apoptosis of various cells, and produce toxic effects on the body system, such as the neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, immunotoxicity, carcinogenesis, misshapen effect and mutagenesis etc. This paper reports the physical and chemical properties, contamination, toxic effects and the outlook of the DON, to provide theoretical basis for the study of mycotoxin toxicity.