A method is described for producing acyl glycinate salts of formula (II) in which R1 represents a saturated linear or branched alkyl radical comprising 1 to 21 carbon atoms or a monounsaturated or polyunsaturated linear or branched alkenyl radical comprising 2 to 21 carbon atoms, and B represents a cation, and/or the corresponding protonated acyl glycinic acid. Said method is characterized in that one or more fatty acid monoethanol amides of formula (I) in which R1 has the meaning indicated above is/are oxidized with oxygen in the presence of an optionally supported bimetallic catalyst consisting of gold and a metal from group VIII of the periodic table in the alkaline medium in order to obtain one or more acyl glycinate salts of formula (II). In order to produce the protonated acyl glycinic acids, the acyl glycinate salt/s of formula (II) is/are additionally reacted with an acid.