The densities and viscosities of ternary NaCl-glucose syrup-water systems were measured in the 283.1-298.1 K temperature range and the water activities were measured at 298.1 K. NaCl and glucose syrup molalities ranged from 0 to 6.0 mol kg-l and from 0 to 1.91 mol kg(-1), respectively. "Dextrose equivalent" (DE) glucose syrup value was 21 and the median molecular weight was 1.007 (kgmol(-1)). Experimental density, viscosity and water activity data were fitted by a five-parameter correlation, an eight-parameter polynomial and a five-parameter polynomial correlation, respectively with deviations of less than 0.5%, 2.3% and 0.9%, respectively. The presence of NaCl was found to be responsible for excess volume. There was a major contribution of interaction terms in the calculation of the ternary viscosity, particularly for high viscosity. While these ternary systems are used in the dehydration-impregnation soaking (DIS) process, the technological consequences of the findings were discussed in terms of DIS process optimization, mass transfers, solution management. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.