Zearalenone (ZEA), an estrogenic mycotoxin, is produced mainly by Fusarium fungi. The concentration of ZEA in food and feed differes greatly from few to thousands milligrams per kilogram under different climatic conditions. The article reviewed the absorption, metabolism and biotransformation mechanisms, the reproduction toxicity, cytotoxicity, immunotoxicity and genotoxicity of zearalenone. This paper also proposed several technical measures to reduce the contamination of zearalenone, such as prevention of plant contamination of Fusarium sp. and their related mycotoxins at the field level, harvest and post-harvest control of mycotoxins, physical or chemical treatment of contaminated grains and the application of adsorbents.［Chinese Journal of Animal Nutrition，2011，23（2）：196-202］