Halting meal production (4)
I believe the answer is:
lame
'halting' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'meal production' is the wordplay.
'production' indicates anagramming the letters.
'meal' anagrammed gives 'LAME'.
(Other definitions for lame that I've seen before include "Imperfect - material" , "Limp - fabric" , "Disabled in the feet or legs" , "Halt" , "Unable to walk without difficulty" .)