Fed up with a New Jersey company's refusal to recall peanuts tied to the ongoing salmonella outbreak, the government issued a public alert and warned the company to comply immediately or face a government raid.

The Food and Drug Administration has warned the public not to consume "any peanuts or peanut-derived products" sold by Westco Fruit and Nuts Inc. of Irvington, N.J. Investigators have been wrestling with the company since February, but the FDA does not have the power to force a recall.

In most cases, the FDA is able to convince companies to recall products voluntarily. But Westco's owner has refused to play ball.

In a telephone interview with ABC News, company owner Jacob Moradi insisted his products were safe and said a recall would drive him out of business.