Sucrose, maltose, lactose, trehalose, glucose, fructose and sorbitol were tested for their ability to minimize the dehydration inactivation of Lactobacillus plantarum during fluidized bed drying. Desorption isotherms were measured for starch and L. plantarum, for binary mixtures containing starch and a carbohydrate, and for ternary mixtures composed of L. plantarum, starch and a carbohydrate. The moisture distribution inside the drying particle was calculated. Sorbitol, maltose, and to a lesser extent sucrose protected L. plantarum during fluidized bed drying. It was shown that moisture distribution and water activity changes as a result of the addition of carbohydrates could not explain the protection.