A group of companies in Japan has launched an effort to promote so-called ethical food. They plan to create a scoring system that lets consumers know more about how foods are made and their impact on the environment.

Ten firms and organizations are holding an event in Tokyo to kick off the initiative. The group includes a major confectionary maker and a marketing company.

The group says food shouldn't hurt the environment or involve child labor. It's hoping an ethical food score system will discourage harmful production practices.

The organization aims to assign scores to items late next year after getting feedback from consumers.