JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- State agriculture officials have ordered a mid-Missouri company to temporarily stop processing meat because of sanitation problems.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture says the issues involve meat processing equipment at B&C Processing in Osage County. The company is classified as a custom exempt processing operation, meaning it can process livestock for the animals' owners but cannot sell meat to the public.

The Agriculture Department says problems at B&C Processing were discovered during an inspection Tuesday. The company must pass an inspection before it can resume processing meat.

People who have recently conducted business with B&C Processing are advised to examine any item processed by the facility before consuming it.

The company's phone rang unanswered Thursday.

Copyright 2012 The AP.