The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has taken action against five area restaurants, including three in Lawrence, for state food code violations. Businesses can appeal the fines.

Milton’s Coffee Inc., 920 Mass., was fined $1,000 for repeated violations. In August the business also was fined $1,250 for repeated violations. Violations that have occurred during the past year include an employee observed handling food without washing hands and storing some food at temperatures higher than allowed.

La Liona Inc., doing business as El Mezcal II, 804 Iowa, was fined $900 for the following: an employee handling tomatoes with a bare hand; cheese found sitting on a stove at 81 degrees; and storing raw beef, shrimp and cooked chicken in areas that weren’t kept cool enough.

Lin Wan Linn, doing business as Imperial Garden, 2907 W. Sixth St., was fined $1,500 for the following violations: foods found in a hot buffet line at temperatures lower than required; storage of foods in a refrigerator at higher than required temperatures; and cockroaches found near the grill and wait station.

In Ottawa, Tequila Inc., doing business as El Mezcal, 402 Main, was fined $2,250 for the following violations: an employee handling dishes without washing hands; an employee handling raw chicken and then handling ready to eat enchiladas; flies seen on a fryer basket, in a food preparation area and on a ready-to-eat taco; stored plates found dirty; and sewage found on the floor in a dishwashing area.

Paul Davis, doing business as Fourth Street Cafe, 400 E. Fourth St., Tonganoxie, was fined $1,200. The following violations were found: an employee’s drink stored above the steam table in the kitchen; improper storage of egg shells, pancake mix, taco meat, sausage and ham; and improper date labeling of roast beef and turkey containers.