diff --git a/cookbook/models.py b/cookbook/models.py
index cfe4ab8149..1f4562c058 100644
--- a/cookbook/models.py
+++ b/cookbook/models.py
@@ -77,7 +77,10 @@ def get_or_create(self, *args, **kwargs):
                     for field in many_to_many:
                         field_model = getattr(obj, field).model
                         for related_obj in many_to_many[field]:
-                            getattr(obj, field).add(field_model.objects.get(**dict(related_obj)))
+                            if isinstance(related_obj, User):
+                                getattr(obj, field).add(field_model.objects.get(id=related_obj.id))
+                            else:
+                                getattr(obj, field).add(field_model.objects.get(**dict(related_obj)))
                     return obj, True
                 except IntegrityError as e:
                     if 'Key (path)' in e.args[0]:
diff --git a/cookbook/serializer.py b/cookbook/serializer.py
index 48236f399b..0fa2ee21a5 100644
--- a/cookbook/serializer.py
+++ b/cookbook/serializer.py
@@ -394,15 +394,20 @@ def create(self, validated_data):
             validated_data['supermarket_category'], sc_created = SupermarketCategory.objects.get_or_create(
                 name=validated_data.pop('supermarket_category')['name'],
                 space=self.context['request'].space)
-        onhand = validated_data.get('food_onhand', None)
+        onhand = validated_data.pop('food_onhand', None)
 
         # assuming if on hand for user also onhand for shopping_share users
         if not onhand is None:
             shared_users = [user := self.context['request'].user] + list(user.userpreference.shopping_share.all())
+            if self.instance:
+                onhand_users = self.instance.onhand_users.all()
+            else:
+                onhand_users = []
             if onhand:
-                validated_data['onhand_users'] = list(self.instance.onhand_users.all()) + shared_users
+                validated_data['onhand_users'] = list(onhand_users) + shared_users
             else:
-                validated_data['onhand_users'] = list(set(self.instance.onhand_users.all()) - set(shared_users))
+                validated_data['onhand_users'] = list(set(onhand_users) - set(shared_users))
+
         obj, created = Food.objects.get_or_create(**validated_data)
         return obj