  On the basis of Braaten and Segel's representation of the electromagnetic
dispersion relations in a QED plasma we check the numerical accuracy of several
published analytic approximations to the plasma neutrino emission rates. As we
find none of them satisfactory we derive a new analytic approximation which is
accurate to within 4\%\ where the plasma process dominates. The correct
emission rates in the parameter regime relevant for the red giant branch in
globular clusters are larger by about $10-20$\% than those of previous stellar
evolution calculations. Therefore, the core mass of red giants at the He flash
is larger by about $0.005\M_\odot$ or 1\% than previously thought. Our bounds
on neutrino magnetic dipole moments remain virtually unchanged.
