diff --git a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/io/file/mapping/DefaultFieldSet.java b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/io/file/mapping/DefaultFieldSet.java
index 759eb36ad..958255e57 100644
--- a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/io/file/mapping/DefaultFieldSet.java
+++ b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/io/file/mapping/DefaultFieldSet.java
@@ -95,6 +95,22 @@ public class DefaultFieldSet implements FieldSet {
 	public String readString(String name) {
 		return readString(indexOf(name));
 	}
+	
+	/*
+	 * (non-Javadoc)
+	 * @see org.springframework.batch.io.file.mapping.IFieldSet#readRawString(int)
+	 */
+	public String readRawString(int index) {
+		return tokens[index];
+	}
+	
+	/*
+	 * (non-Javadoc)
+	 * @see org.springframework.batch.io.file.mapping.IFieldSet#readRawString(java.lang.String)
+	 */
+	public String readRawString(String name) {
+		return readRawString(indexOf(name));
+	}
 
 	/*
 	 * (non-Javadoc)
diff --git a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/io/file/mapping/FieldSet.java b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/io/file/mapping/FieldSet.java
index df35b523a..c40b50a6b 100644
--- a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/io/file/mapping/FieldSet.java
+++ b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/io/file/mapping/FieldSet.java
@@ -61,6 +61,23 @@ public interface FieldSet {
 	 */
 	String readString(String name);
 
+	/**
+	 * Read the {@link String} value at index '<code>index</code>' including
+	 * trailing whitespace (don't trim).
+	 * 
+	 * @param index the field index.
+	 * @throws IndexOutOfBoundsException if the index is out of bounds.
+	 */
+	String readRawString(int index);
+
+	/**
+	 * Read the {@link String} value from column with given '<code>name</code>'
+	 * including trailing whitespace (don't trim).
+	 * 
+	 * @param name the field name.
+	 */
+	String readRawString(String name);
+
 	/**
 	 * Read the '<code>boolean</code>' value at index '<code>index</code>'.
 	 * 
diff --git a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/io/file/FieldSetTests.java b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/io/file/FieldSetTests.java
index d2b6359b3..4fceaf14b 100644
--- a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/io/file/FieldSetTests.java
+++ b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/io/file/FieldSetTests.java
@@ -441,4 +441,13 @@ public class FieldSetTests extends TestCase {
 		long value = fs.readLong(0);
 		assertEquals(value, 9);
 	}
+	
+	public void testReadRawString() {
+		String name = "fieldName";
+		String value = " string with trailing whitespace   ";
+		FieldSet fs = new DefaultFieldSet(new String[] { value }, new String[]{ name });
+		
+		assertEquals(value, fs.readRawString(0));
+		assertEquals(value, fs.readRawString(name));
+	}
 }